Kimberly Cheatle, Director of the US Secret Service, has resigned after facing intense scrutiny over security lapses related to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally. Her resignation follows the first hearing of the US Secret Service Director, where she faced tough questioning from the House Oversight Committee.
Cheatle was grilled on Monday regarding the Secret Service’s handling of the assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In an email to staff on Tuesday, she announced her decision to step down, taking full responsibility for the security lapse.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she wrote. “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 had already faced calls to resign amid dissatisfaction with her testimony regarding the agency’s inability to protect Trump. Her resignation comes just a day after she appeared before a congressional committee and was berated by both Democrats and Republicans for the security failures.
She acknowledged the attempt on Trump’s life as the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades, stating she takes full responsibility for the security lapses. However, she angered lawmakers by failing to provide specific answers regarding the investigation.
The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to get within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where the former president was speaking before opening fire. This occurred despite a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, which had led to increased security for the former president in the days leading up to the July 13 rally.
