On Tuesday, [Jul 23, 2024] U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned. This followed her evasive testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, as reported by the Associated Press.

Cheatle’s resignation comes after the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old, targeted Trump from a rooftop 130 yards away. The attack killed attendee Corey Comperatore and injured others.

Cheatle’s testimony faced bipartisan scrutiny. Critics pointed out significant security lapses which led to widespread calls for her resignation.

“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director,” Cheatle said in an email to staff obtained by the AP Tuesday.

Speaker Mike Johnson expressed that Cheatle’s resignation was overdue. “Now we have to pick up the pieces. We have to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service as an agency.”

President Joe Biden thanked Cheatle for her service in a statement on Tuesday. He added, “We all know what happened that day can never happen again.”

Cheatle and the USSS have tried to justify the security lapses. They stated that the “sloped” roof was not occupied because it was unsafe. However, whistleblowers’ accounts contradict this claim. They allege that law enforcement personnel had been stationed on the roof but left their post due to hot weather.

“The buck stops with me,” Cheatle said in an interview with ABC News. “I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary.”

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer emphasized the need for a full review of the security failures. “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.”

Cheatle has served as the U.S. Secret Service Director since August 2022.

SF Source Middle America News Jul 2024