Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced intense questioning from lawmakers on July 22, 2024, as she testified before the House Oversight Committee regarding the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. In a stark admission, Cheatle declared, “We failed,” taking full responsibility for what she termed the agency’s “most significant operational failure” in decades.The assassination attempt, which occurred during a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, left the former president wounded in the ear and resulted in multiple injuries. The incident has raised serious questions about the Secret Service’s ability to protect high-profile political figures, with particular focus on how the shooter, identified as a 20-year-old man, was able to position himself on a nearby rooftop with a semi-automatic rifle, just 140 meters from Trump.New details emerged during the hearing, revealing that witnesses had alerted authorities about the shooter’s suspicious presence two minutes before the attack. Despite this warning, the assailant managed to fire his weapon, with Secret Service agents neutralizing him 26 seconds after the first shot.Cheatle’s testimony contradicted earlier statements from the Secret Service, as she asserted that the security level for Trump had increased before the attack and has continued to increase as threats evolve. This claim stands in contrast to previous acknowledgments that some of Trump’s requests for increased security had been rejected.The fallout from the incident has been swift and severe, with several lawmakers calling for Cheatle’s resignation. However, Cheatle has resisted these calls, stating she is the best person to lead the agency at this time. Reports indicate that she continues to enjoy the support of President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.As part of the ongoing response to the incident, multiple investigations have been launched. FBI Director Christopher Wray is scheduled to testify on Wednesday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced the formation of a bipartisan task force to coordinate investigations. These efforts aim to uncover the full circumstances of the assassination attempt and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle admitted to a ‘significant operational failure’ in protecting former President Donald Trump during an assassination attempt.
- Witnesses alerted authorities about the shooter’s suspicious presence two minutes before the attack, but the assailant still managed to fire.
- Cheatle is resisting calls for her resignation, stating she is the best person to lead the agency through this crisis.
- Multiple investigations have been launched, including a bipartisan task force, to uncover the full circumstances of the assassination attempt.
Contradictions👾Cheatle’s claim that security for Trump had increased before the attack contradicts previous acknowledgments that some of Trump’s requests for increased security had been rejected.
👾There are conflicting reports about the exact distance of the shooter from Trump, with some sources citing 140 meters and others mentioning 150 meters.
