Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday following a disastrous appearance before Congress to review the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Cheatle, who has been with the Secret Service for nearly 30 years, faced mounting calls to resign after the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman fired shots at Trump, grazing his ear. The incident also resulted in the death of one rally attendee and injuries to two others before Secret Service countersnipers killed the shooter.
The calls for Cheatle’s resignation reached a crescendo during her testimony on Monday before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. Lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration as Cheatle sidestepped multiple questions and failed to provide critical details about how the agency planned to address its security lapse. Her repeated references to the ongoing investigation as a reason for withholding information further inflamed tensions. “I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” Cheatle stated in an email to staff on Tuesday, obtained by The Associated Press. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.” Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Secret Service immediately responded to requests for comment.
President Joe Biden praised Cheatle, highlighting her nearly three decades of service and dedication. “Kimberly Cheatle has selflessly dedicated herself to protecting our nation and its leaders. Her decision to step down reflects her honor, courage, and integrity,” Biden remarked, noting the challenging nature of the Secret Service’s mission. However, reactions on Capitol Hill were more critical. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) described Cheatle’s resignation as “overdue,” asserting that she should have resigned a week ago. “We need to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service,” Johnson stated, emphasizing the importance of an upcoming task force to address the agency’s failings.
During her congressional testimony, Cheatle acknowledged the shooting as a significant failure for the Secret Service. “The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13, we failed. As the director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse,” she said in her opening remarks. She vowed to learn from the incident and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. “Thinking about what we should have done differently is never far from my thoughts,” Cheatle added.
Despite Cheatle’s admission of failure, lawmakers were left unsatisfied with her responses. Her refusal to answer many questions about the shooting, even those related to publicly reported details, frustrated members of the committee. “She did the right thing by resigning. Yesterday’s performance was awful. It was all secret and no service,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, told reporters. The bipartisan dissatisfaction culminated in a rare joint letter from the Oversight Committee’s leaders, Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and Raskin, urging Cheatle to resign. “Today, you failed to provide answers to basic questions regarding that stunning operational failure and to reassure the American people that the Secret Service has learned its lessons and begun to correct its systemic blunders and failures. In the middle of a presidential election, the Committee and the American people demand serious institutional accountability and transparency that you are not providing,” the letter read.
When the news of Cheatle’s resignation broke during a Tuesday Oversight hearing, Raskin congratulated Comer on a successful session. “You should sign more letters with me; there’s no telling what we could do,” Comer responded. Comer later issued a statement emphasizing the need for further accountability within the Secret Service. “The Oversight Committee’s hearing resulted in Director Cheatle’s resignation, and there will be more accountability to come,” he wrote. “While Director Cheatle’s resignation is a step toward accountability, we need a full review of how these security failures happened so that we can prevent them going forward.
We will continue our oversight of the Secret Service in support of the House Task Force to deliver transparency, accountability, and solutions to ensure this never happens again.” The Secret Service faces the daunting task of regaining public trust and ensuring the safety of its protectees without error. The agency’s “no fail” mission, as emphasized by Speaker Johnson, underscores the critical nature of its responsibilities. The upcoming task force, which will be integral in addressing the agency’s shortcomings, is expected to play a significant role in implementing necessary reforms and restoring faith in the Secret Service’s capabilities.
As the Secret Service navigates this period of transition, the broader implications of this incident continue to resonate within the political landscape. The assassination attempt on a former president, particularly during an election year, has heightened the scrutiny on the agency’s operational effectiveness and transparency. Lawmakers and the public alike are demanding comprehensive reforms to prevent future security lapses and to ensure that those tasked with protecting national leaders are held to the highest standards of accountability.
Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation marks a pivotal moment for the Secret Service, highlighting both the challenges and the imperative for rigorous oversight and reform. As the agency moves forward, the lessons learned from the July 13 incident will undoubtedly shape its approach to security and accountability. The collaborative efforts of lawmakers, the upcoming task force, and the commitment to transparency will be crucial in rebuilding the integrity and trust that the Secret Service must uphold to fulfill its vital mission.
