The director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, has agreed to testify at an upcoming House hearing probing the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. The House Oversight and Accountability Committee subpoenaed Cheatle to appear before Congress as part of their open investigation into the Trump-rally shooting. The committee cited the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secret Service’s failure to provide assurance of her appearance as justification for the subpoena.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, the committee announced Cheatle’s agreement to comply with the subpoena. “Americans demand and deserve answers from Director Cheatle about the attempted assassination of President Trump and the Secret Service’s egregious failures,” the GOP-led committee wrote on X after Cheatle agreed to appear.
Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., penned a letter to Cheatle, stating that “there have been no meaningful updates or information shared with the Committee.” The letter attached to the subpoena read, “The lack of transparency and failure to cooperate with the Committee on this pressing matter by both DHS and the Secret Service further calls into question your ability to lead the Secret Service and necessitates the attached subpoena compelling your appearance before the Oversight Committee.”
Following an initial request for Cheatle’s voluntary presence at the hearing, an Oversight Committee spokesperson told Fox News’ Chad Pergram that the subpoena was issued to “head off any attempt by DHS to backtrack from her appearance on Monday.”
Trump survived the assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, an incident that tragically took the life of one rally attendee and injured several others.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, members of Congress called for an investigation, and a full committee hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 22nd.
