The director of the Secret Service is resigning from her position, as announced in an email to staff. This decision comes in the wake of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, which has sparked increasing criticism about the agency’s ability to fulfill its fundamental duty of protecting current and former presidents.
Kimberly Cheatle, who had been the Secret Service director since August 2022, faced mounting demands for her resignation and several inquiries into how the shooter managed to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she said in the email to staff Tuesday. “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’s resignation follows her appearance before a congressional committee, where she was harshly criticized for hours by both Democrats and Republicans over the security lapses. She described the attempt on Trump’s life as the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades and took full responsibility for the security shortcomings. However, she frustrated lawmakers by not addressing specific questions about the investigation.
At the hearing on Monday, Cheatle remained adamant that she was the “right person” to lead the Secret Service, despite acknowledging full responsibility for the security failures. When Republican Rep. Nancy Mace suggested that Cheatle start drafting her resignation letter from the hearing room, Cheatle replied, “No, thank you.”
The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to get within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where the former president was speaking before opening fire. This occurred despite heightened security for Trump due to an earlier threat on his life from Iran in the days leading up to the July 13 rally.
Secret Service rejects Trump’s request for increased security
The Secret Service has admitted that it turned down some of Trump’s campaign’s requests for enhanced security at his events in the years leading up to the assassination attempt.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has labeled the incident a “failure,” while several lawmakers have urged Cheatle to resign or for President Joe Biden to dismiss her.
The attack on Trump represents the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. It is the latest in a series of security failures by the agency that have attracted investigations and public scrutiny over the years.
Authorities are investigating what motivated Crooks but have yet to find any ideological motives that might explain his actions. Investigators discovered photos of Trump, Biden, and other senior government officials on his phone and noted that he had searched for the dates of the Democratic National Convention as well as Trump’s appearances. He also looked up information about major depressive disorder.
