U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned last week amidst mounting pressure following the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump. Cheatle's resignation came after facing bipartisan criticism during a House Oversight Committee hearing and in the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt by Thomas Crooks on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In a letter addressed to the U.S. Secret Service, Cheatle expressed her regret, stating, 'The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders and financial infrastructure. On July 13th, we fell short on that mission.' She acknowledged the intense scrutiny faced by the agency and took full responsibility for the security lapse.
President Biden, despite not immediately terminating Cheatle following the incident, praised her years of public service and announced plans to appoint a new director promptly. Biden commended Cheatle for demonstrating honor, courage, and integrity in taking responsibility for the security breach, emphasizing the need to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Reflecting on the events, Biden emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of national leaders and reiterated the commitment to upholding the Secret Service's critical mission. He expressed gratitude towards Cheatle while underscoring the imperative of learning from the incident to enhance security measures moving forward.
