Both Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress called on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign following her appearance before a congressional committee on Monday. On Tuesday she sent a letter to her staff announcing her decision to step down, and President Joe Biden quickly released a statement thanking Cheatle for her years of public service and said he will soon appoint a new leader for the agency.
The director of the Secret Service is stepping down from her job, according to an email she sent to staff, following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that unleashed intensifying outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission.
Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, had been facing growing calls to resign and several investigations into how the shooter was able to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she said in the email to staff Tuesday. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”
Cheatle’s resignation comes a day after she appeared before a congressional committee and was berated by hours by both Democrats and Republicans for the security failures. She called the attempt on Trump’s life the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades and said she takes full responsibility for the security lapses, but angered lawmakers by failing to answer specific questions about the investigation.
Read moreUS Secret Service director admits 'failure' at congressional hearing over Trump shooting
At the hearing Monday, Cheatle remained defiant that she was the “right person” to lead the Secret Service, even as she said she took full responsibility the security lapses. When Republican Rep. Nancy Mace suggested Cheatle begin drafting her resignation letter from the hearing room, Cheatle responded, “No, thank you.”
The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to get within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where the former president was speaking when he opened fire. That’s despite a threat on Trump’s life from Iran leading to additional security for the former president in the days before the July 13 rally.
Read moreWho was suspected Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks?
(AP)
