U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday amidst widespread outrage over her agency’s failure to prevent the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.
The shooting incident took place earlier this month, and Cheatle’s resignation came a day after she faced criticism from members of a House committee for the Secret Service’s actions leading up to the rally.
Cheatle, who served in the agency for nearly 30 years, initially rejected calls to step down during the committee hearing. However, the intense scrutiny and operational challenges led her to make the difficult decision to resign.
In a letter addressed to Secret Service staff, Cheatle expressed her heavy heart and took full responsibility for the security lapse. She acknowledged that the Secret Service’s mission is to protect the nation’s leaders and financial infrastructure, and on July 13th, they fell short of fulfilling that mission.
President Joe Biden thanked Cheatle for her decades of public service and emphasized the dedication and integrity required for leading an organization with such a challenging role. He also announced his plan to appoint a new Secret Service director soon.
While Cheatle’s resignation is seen as a step towards accountability, the House Oversight committee chairman stated that it would not halt the panel’s demand for more accountability from the Secret Service. The committee intends to conduct a comprehensive review of the security failures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The criticism directed at Cheatle revolves around the Secret Service’s failure to secure the roof from where the gunman fired shots at Trump and rally attendees. Despite the rooftop having a clear line of sight to the stage, the Secret Service did not extend its security perimeter to include that area. Additionally, agents allowed Trump to begin speaking even after a report of a suspicious person at the event. That person turned out to be the gunman, who was ultimately killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Cheatle faced further backlash for rationalizing the decision to not place a sniper on the sloped roof, citing safety concerns. However, this decision was widely mocked as many believed that actions could and should have been taken to ensure the president’s safety.
The Secret Service’s reputation has been marred in recent years due to various scandals and missteps. This incident highlights the urgent need for a thorough review and accountability within the agency to prevent such security failures in the future.
