Lawmakers Question Secret Service Director About Trump Assassination Attempt
Lawmakers Question Secret Service Director About Trump Assassination Attempt
On Monday, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced intense scrutiny from House lawmakers across party lines over the serious security lapses that led to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
Cheatle admitted to "significant" security issues at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, where the former president was shot in the ear. She did not downplay the gravity of the incident, acknowledging its historical and political importance.
FULL HEARING: Secret Service Kim Cheatle Hearing on Trump Assassination Attempt Day 1 | LiveNOW FOX
Before Trump’s appearance on stage, Cheatle revealed that the Secret Service had been alerted "between two and five times" about a suspicious individual in the vicinity.
During the House Oversight Committee's questioning, Cheatle was repeatedly challenged about the security failures and the measures being taken to prevent a recurrence. However, Cheatle often deflected, citing the ongoing FBI investigation and failing to provide clear answers. She also remained steadfast despite bipartisan demands for her resignation.
Key points from the hearing include:
Cheatle Acknowledges “Colossal Failure”: Cheatle described the Trump assassination attempt as “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades,” comparing it to the failed assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Despite the gravity of this historic failure under her leadership, Cheatle maintained that she would not resign.
No Resources Withheld for Trump Rally: Cheatle asserted that all requested resources for the July 13 event were provided. Despite reports of previous occasions where the Secret Service allegedly denied Trump’s security requests and relied on local law enforcement for supplementation, Cheatle denied any such denials for the Butler event. GOP Rep. Jim Jordan questioned whether Cheatle had been untruthful in earlier statements about security requests, but Cheatle insisted that no requests were denied for this event.
The line of fire: Analyzing the Trump assassination attempt
Cheatle’s Evasive Responses: The committee’s top Republican and Democrat pressed Cheatle on unresolved issues such as whether any Secret Service agents were stationed on the roof where gunman Thomas Crooks fired shots and if Crooks had used a drone before the rally. Cheatle avoided direct answers, confirming only that the FBI was investigating the potential use of a drone.
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