US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned amidst mounting scrutiny over security lapses related to the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The move follows investigations by lawmakers and an internal government watchdog into the agency's handling of Trump's protection and the near-fatal incident at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Lawmakers from both parties have called for Cheatle's resignation, with some Republican lawmakers even pushing for her impeachment. The calls intensified after her appearance before the House Oversight Committee, where she faced criticism for evading questions.
Cheatle, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022, initially resisted calls to step down but ultimately decided to resign. In a recent interview, she claimed full responsibility for the security arrangements at the rally site, where a gunman fired shots at Trump from an unsecured rooftop, narrowly missing the former president.
The incident resulted in the death of one rallygoer and multiple injuries. Questions have been raised about the Secret Service's failure to control access to the rooftop and its handling of information provided by local law enforcement about the suspicious individual before the shooting.
Discrepancies have emerged between the Secret Service and Pennsylvania law enforcement regarding the events leading up to the assassination attempt. Cheatle acknowledged significant security failures during her testimony but maintained that she was the best person to lead the agency.
Despite her resignation, Cheatle pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations into the Secret Service's response to the incident. Prior to her role as Director, Cheatle managed Global Security at PepsiCo and had a 27-year career in the Secret Service.
