Kimberly Cheatle, the Director of the Secret Service, has resigned just over a week after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, during which he was shot in the ear.
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| US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee during a hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building on July 22, 2024 in Washington, D.C. KENT NISHIMURA/GETTY IMAGES |
In her email, Cheatle expressed her sorrow over stepping down and mentioned the intense scrutiny she has faced since the incident. She acknowledged the critical security lapse that occurred on July 13 and pointed out that her decision to resign was made to avoid further distractions for the agency.
Cheatle testified before the House Oversight Committee on July 22, where she was heavily questioned about the security failure. She reaffirmed that the Secret Service's mission is non-political and a matter of life and death, reflecting on the events of July 13. She voiced her confidence in the agency’s personnel, asserting they deserve support to carry out their protective duties.
Following the shooting incident, Cheatle addressed the need for potential updates to security protocols, particularly for the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. She stated that the Secret Service, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, develops flexible security plans to adapt to changing environments and the latest intelligence.
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| Kent Nishimura | Getty Images |
Sources revealed that Cheatle’s resignation comes amid investigations by lawmakers and internal government bodies into the Secret Service’s handling of Trump’s protection. A gunman nearly succeeded in assassinating Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, raising serious concerns about the agency’s security measures. In her resignation letter, Cheatle took full responsibility and expressed her desire not to let her departure divert agents from their mission.
Deputy Director Ronald Rowe has been appointed to lead the agency. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their gratitude for Cheatle’s decades of public service, praising her integrity in taking responsibility for the agency’s failures.
Cheatle faced bipartisan calls for her resignation, with some Republican lawmakers pushing for her impeachment. During her testimony to the House Oversight Committee, she admitted to significant security issues at the rally but initially resisted calls for her resignation, claiming she was best suited to lead the agency through the crisis.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Cheatle's resignation was overdue and pointed out the need to rebuild trust in the Secret Service. Johnson pointed out the agency's vital role in protecting presidents and other officials, underlining the importance of restoring public faith.
Initially, Cheatle was firm about not stepping down following the shooting. Appointed by Biden in 2022, she had previously managed Global Security at PepsiCo and served in the Secret Service for 27 years before her private sector stint. In a recent CNN interview, Cheatle admitted that the Secret Service was solely responsible for the security design and implementation at the Pennsylvania rally, where the gunman managed to shoot Trump from an unsecured rooftop close to the rally stage. The incident resulted in Trump being wounded, one rallygoer’s death, and injuries to others.
As more details about the attempted attack emerged, the Secret Service faced scrutiny for its security lapses, including failing to control rooftop access and mishandling information about the would-be assassin. There have been conflicting accounts between the Secret Service and Pennsylvania law enforcement regarding the security failures. Cheatle pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations into the agency’s actions on that day.