Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced intense questioning from lawmakers on July 22, 2024, during a congressional hearing 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.New details emerged during the hearing, revealing that the Secret Service had received “two to five” warnings about a suspicious person before the attack. Additionally, the agency had identified the roof from which the shooting occurred as a potential vulnerability days before the rally. Despite these red flags, the attacker, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to fire eight shots before being neutralized by a Secret Service agent 26 seconds later.The incident resulted in Trump being wounded in the ear, the death of former firefighter Corey Comperatore, and serious injuries to two Trump supporters. Cheatle apologized to Trump in a phone call after the shooting and vowed to “turn the sky and earth upside down” to prevent such incidents in the future.Despite taking full responsibility, Cheatle has resisted bipartisan calls for her resignation, stating she is the “right person” to lead the agency at this time. However, lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration with her evasive answers during the hearing, citing ongoing investigations.Multiple investigations have been launched in response to the incident. The Secret Service is conducting an internal probe expected to be completed within 60 days. Additionally, FBI Director Christopher Wray is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on July 24, and House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to form a bipartisan working group to investigate the assassination attempt.The incident has reignited debates about gun control and the polarized state of the nation, with some lawmakers, including Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly, highlighting the attack as a symptom of increasing political division.
Key points
- Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle admitted to agency’s failure in protecting former President Trump during assassination attempt.
- The Secret Service received multiple warnings about a suspicious person and had identified vulnerabilities before the attack.
- Cheatle faces bipartisan calls for resignation but insists she’s the right person to lead the agency.
- Multiple investigations have been launched, including an internal Secret Service probe and a bipartisan working group.
Contradictions👾While Cheatle stated that security for Trump had increased before the attack, the House Judiciary Committee reportedly has evidence that the Secret Service was not properly resourced for Trump’s rally due to staffing shortages.
