The director of the United States Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, acknowledged this Monday (07/22/2024) that the agency failed in its mission to prevent the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, but rejected demands for her resignation from office.
“We failed,” Cheatle told the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. “As director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security breaches,” he added.
Cheatley said the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump, who suffered a minor injury to his right ear, was “the most significant Secret Service operational failure in decades.”
“Clearly an error has been made and we will do everything possible to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The attacker, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, shot Trump with an AR-style rifle minutes after the presidential candidate began his speech during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The crook was killed by a Secret Service sniper 26 seconds after firing eight bullets.
The investigation revealed that Crooks, who lived 50 miles from Butler, acted alone and was unable to identify any strong ideological or political motivation.
Firefighter Corey Comperator, 50, was shot and killed, and two Trump supporters were seriously injured.
Republican Chairman James Comer said at the start of the hearing, “This tragedy was preventable” and “in my view, Director Cheatle should resign.”
Comer said, “The Secret Service has a zero-fail mission, but it failed on July 13 and in the days leading up to the rally,” for which the service “has now become the face of incompetence.” Republican and Democratic members of Congress on the committee also urged Cheatle to resign.
Republican Michael Turner said that “not only must she resign, but if she refuses to do so, President Biden must fire her because her life, the life of Donald Trump, and the lives of those you protect are all at risk.”
“I am the best person to lead the Secret Service”
Jamie Raskin, a Democratic representative on the committee, agreed. “I don’t want to make the director’s terrible, terrible, very bad day any worse, but I join the (committee’s) chairman in calling for his resignation,” Raskin said.
“I think the director has lost the confidence of Congress, and that’s a very urgent and critical point at this time in the country’s history,” he said.
Cheatle declines those requests. He says, “I think I’m the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time.”
The agency’s director refused to answer many of the congressmen’s specific questions about the attack, arguing that they are still the subject of several ongoing investigations.
“I can talk to you in general terms,” Cheatley teased the congressmen on the committee.
Prior to the shooting, the Secret Service had been alerted “two to five times” about a “suspicious individual” at the rally, but he was not immediately classified as a “threat”.
“Teams were sent to identify and question the man,” he said, “but they were unable to trace him before the shooting.”
Trump’s former doctor said over the weekend that a two-centimeter wound to the former president’s right ear caused by the gunshot has begun to heal.
Ronny Jackson, a former White House doctor and now a far-right congressman from Texas, provided the first detailed account of the 78-year-old Trump’s injury.
The bullet struck him “within millimeters of its impact, entering his head and lodging in the upper part of his right ear,” Jackson wrote, adding that he visited Trump in New Jersey the night of the rally and has been receiving treatment since.
Cheatle served as a Secret Service agent for 27 years before stepping down in 2021 to take over as PepsiCo’s head of security in North America. In 2022 he was appointed as the agency’s director by Joe Biden.
MG (AFP, CNN)
Shooting at Trump rally in pictures
The attack against the candidate at a campaign event in Pennsylvania sent shockwaves across the United States and the world.
Image: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
A series of gunshots were fired during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Secret Service agents immediately rushed to the stage and surrounded Trump, who was knocked to the floor of the grandstand.
Image: Gene J. Puskar/AP Photos/Picture Alliance
The Secret Service enters the scene
As the shots rang out, Trump was seen touching his right ear. Secret Service agents then ran onto the stage and tackled the former president. They crowded around him while other security agents secured the place.
Image: Evan Vucci/AP Photos/Picture Alliance
Donald Trump has an injury to his right ear
After Trump was surrounded, Secret Service agents helped the former president to his feet. Blood could be seen streaking his face. Trump raised his fist toward the crowd and chanted, “Fight, fight, fight.” Many in the crowd chanted “USA, USA.”
Image: Reuters
Trump strikes a defiant pose
After being helped to his feet by Secret Service agents, Trump raised his fist in the air in a defiant gesture, leaving himself partially exposed and blood stains visible on his face. Photos of that moment with the American flag in the background quickly circulated on social networks. Many Republicans saw it as a defining moment for their campaign.
Image: Evan Vucci/AP Photo/Picture Alliance
Crime scene: Outdoor rally in Pennsylvania
The former US president had just started his speech when the sound of gunfire was heard. Trump was talking about immigrants. An eyewitness told news agency Reuters that at first it sounded like fireworks, but then people started shouting. He said, “Everyone panicked. It was chaos.”
Image: Evan Vucci/AP Photo/Picture Alliance
Shock and fear among the crowd at the rally
Three people from the audience were initially seriously injured. A doctor present rushed to help one of the injured. Speaking to reporters later, the doctor said the man had been shot in the head. His death was later confirmed.
Image: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
There is uproar in the world
News of what the FBI calls an “attempted assassination” made headlines around the world. President Joe Biden said he was relieved Trump was safe and condemned the attack, saying “there is no place in America for this type of violence.” Vice President Kamala Harris, who was also campaigning in Pennsylvania, condemned the “despicable act.”
Image: Brian Snyder/Reuters
Joe Biden condemns assassination attempt on Trump
US President Joe Biden returned to Washington from his seaside home in Delaware and also spoke to Trump after his release from the hospital. Biden said he was grateful to the Secret Service for getting Trump out safely. “This is sick. This is sick. This is one of the reasons we have to unite this country,” Biden wrote on the social network X.
Image: Tom Brenner/Reuters
Police deployment: More security for candidates
Police officers in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, protect the town hall where President Biden made an appearance. In his speech, he condemned the attack on his potential Republican rival in the November presidential election.
Image: Tom Brenner/Reuters
Several hours after the shooting, the FBI took over the investigation. The agency has since confirmed an “assassination attempt” against Trump and announced it had identified the shooter. Special Agent Kevin Rojek said officers were “vigorously working” on the case. The FBI said it had “no reason to believe” any additional threats existed.
Image: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Extra security for Trump
The NYPD was standing guard in front of Trump Tower in New York. After leaving the hospital, the former president was expected to spend the night at his home in New Jersey, the New York Times reported.
Image: David D. Delgado/Reuters
Most serious assassination attempt since 1981
Secret Service members patrol the area after Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania was interrupted by the attack. The attack is the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since 1981, when Ronald Reagan was shot.
