In a rare display of bipartisanship, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. This demand came during and after a contentious House Oversight Committee hearing on Monday, which scrutinized the Secret Service's security measures before a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The event, which led to the attempt on Trump's life, resulted in one fatality and three injuries, including Trump himself.

 

 

The hearing proved to be particularly challenging for Cheatle, as she faced harsh criticism and ridicule from lawmakers for her responses and the limited information provided by her agency. Both Republican and Democratic committee members expressed their frustration with Cheatle's handling of the situation and the lack of transparency from the Secret Service.

 

James Comer and Jamie Raskin, the leading Republican and Democrat on the committee, respectively, issued a letter to Cheatle after the hearing, urging her to step down. The letter stated, "In the middle of a presidential election, the Committee and the American people demand serious institutional accountability and transparency that you are not providing. We call on you to resign as Director as a first step to allowing new leadership to swiftly address this crisis and rebuild the trust of a truly concerned Congress and the American people."

 

 

During the hearing, Cheatle accepted responsibility for the security lapses and acknowledged that the Butler incident represented "the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades." However, her refusal to answer many questions directly, citing the ongoing investigation, left many lawmakers dissatisfied. Cheatle also defended her position, asserting that she remained "the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time."

 

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer expressed his disappointment, saying, "The American people have questions, [and] they deserve answers. You were required to provide answers and, ma'am, you did not." The hearing, which lasted nearly six hours, was marked by intense exchanges, with lawmakers using strong language, shouting, and questioning Cheatle's honesty and competence.

 

 

Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna voiced her discontent, stating, "I'm disgusted by your performance." Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, a Trump ally, echoed these sentiments, accusing Cheatle of evading basic questions and cutting corners in protecting Trump. South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace also expressed her frustration, accusing Cheatle of dishonesty and dodging questions.

 

Georgia's Marjorie Taylor Greene was particularly vocal, calling Cheatle a "total failure" and demanding her resignation. Cheatle admitted that no Secret Service officers or employees had been disciplined for the Butler incident and announced that a preliminary report on the shooting would be released within 60 days. This timeline was met with skepticism by committee members, including New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who argued that such a delay was unacceptable during a tense election season.

 

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency, stating, "This is not theatre, this is not about jockeying, this is about the safety of some of the most highly targeted and valued targets internationally and domestically. There needs to be answers. We need to make policy decisions. Without that, we're flying blind."

 

While there was a general consensus regarding Cheatle's future, there were some points of contention between Republicans and Democrats. Several Republicans suggested that Cheatle's appointment was influenced by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and questioned the capabilities of female agents assigned to Trump's security detail. Other representatives, such as Lauren Boebert and Anna Paulina Luna, hinted at conspiracy theories circulating online.

 

Florida Republican Michael Waltz criticized Cheatle for not addressing the situation more proactively, saying, "I would have fired you just by how you handled this, because you should have been the first to the mics." 

 

Eyewitnesses to the Butler shooting also expressed their dissatisfaction with Cheatle's responses. Jean Vincent, a Butler resident, stated, "She's trying to pass the buck. I'm actually amazed at how insufficient her answers were. She needs to be held accountable for her total lack of competency... she put our lives at risk and needs to take responsibility." Former US Marine Teresa Wilson echoed these sentiments, calling Cheatle's responses evasive and stating, "The only acceptable thing she could have done is take responsibility and step down. All the rest is noise."

 

As the investigation into the Butler incident continues, the pressure on Cheatle to resign remains high. The bipartisan call for her resignation underscores the urgency for accountability and transparency within the Secret Service, especially during a critical election period.

 

 

Credit: BBC 2024-07-23

 

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Incompetent bureaucratic administrator had nine days to prepare for stonewalling and refusing to resign, anyone with a lick of sense can see she’s covering up information that indicts her integrity or lack there of.

She should go, and take her racist, sexist DEI policies with her.

I agree with her. Wait for the fbi to finish their investigation.