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US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before Congress, admitting the agency’s failure to prevent an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. She faced significant criticism from lawmakers, some of whom called for her resignation. Despite the pressure, Cheatle stated that she would not step down.

Let’s bring you up to speed: On July 13, 2024, during an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman fired shots at the stage where Donald Trump was speaking. Trump was grazed on his ear, a rally-goer was killed, and two spectators were critically wounded. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old nursing home aide, was killed by law enforcement. Currently, no information regarding a motive has been found.

The hearing: Director Cheatle appeared before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, admitting to significant operational failures. She faced various questions, many of which she could not answer due to the ongoing investigation, leaving some lawmakers angry.

Questions not answered: During the congressional hearing, Kimberly Cheatle was unable to provide clear answers to the following:

1. Why no agents were stationed on the warehouse rooftop, which provided an unobstructed view of the rally stage where Trump was speaking.
2. The rationale behind allowing Trump to start his speech despite knowing there was a suspicious individual near the stage.
3. Specific reasons for not assigning additional security requested by Trump’s team, even though the Secret Service had previously denied similar requests.
4. The number of times Trump’s team had requested additional security measures and the reasons for their denial.
5. Specific details on why local police, who identified the shooter as suspicious, were not adequately integrated into the security plan.
6. The rationale behind excluding the warehouse from the Secret Service’s inner security perimeter.
7. How the shooter managed to get his rifle to the building despite his car being parked far away.

What she did say: In her opening statement, Director Cheatle said, “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. We are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations. We must learn what happened. Our mission is not political. It is literally a matter of life and death, as the tragic events on July 13 remind us of that. I have full confidence in the men and women of the Secret Service. They are worthy of our support in executing our protective mission.”

Calls for resignation: High-profile Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Democrat Representative Jared Moskowitz, have expressed concerns about the security lapses and called for Cheatle’s resignation. Both Republicans and Democrats echoed the sentiment that the Secret Service’s failure to prevent the attack represents a severe breach in its duty to protect high-profile political figures. Despite bipartisan pressure, Cheatle has stated she intends to stay in her position to address the agency’s failures and improve security measures.