Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns
Jul 23, 2024, 8:34 AM | Updated: 9:06 am
Kimberly Cheatle, Director, U.S. Secret Service, testifies during a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing on Oversight of the U.S. Secret Service and the Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump, on Capitol Hill, Monday, July 22, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — ABC News reported that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned.
Following the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Cheatle has faced criticism for the Secret Service’s failure to provide security.
ABC News said that “two sources” have confirmed Cheatle’s resignation.
Cheatle has been facing scrutiny over the Secret Service’s failed attempt to protect Trump during his Pennsylvania rally. She has received calls to resign from Republican and Democrat leaders alike, according to CNN.
On Monday, Cheatle testified in front of a House committee. CNN reported that during the hearing, Cheatle admitted there had been “significant” security problems at the July 13 rally.
Additionally, she said that Secret Service members had been notified “between two and five times” of a suspicious character.
Despite the admissions, Cheatle avoided answering some other questions. Per CNN, she danced around inquiries into whether there was an agent of the roof where the shooter fired from, and if he’d flown a drone over the area beforehand, among others.
Cheatle discusses Secret Service shortcomings
The Monday hearing was not the first time Cheatle discussed the shortcomings of the Secret Service at the event.
ABC News reported that she spoke to members of Congress about the attempt on July 17. During the briefing, she and FBI Director Christopher Wray said 20 minutes passed between when snipers became aware of the gunman and when the first shots were fired at Trump.
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