Kimberly Cheatlethe director of the US Secret Service made a major decision nearly two weeks after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
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Kimberly Cheatle makes headlines nearly two weeks after Trump shooting
According to NBC NewsThe network received Cheatle’s resignation letter on Tuesday, July 23. In the letter, the former Secret Service director explained that the “scrutiny” she and the organization have faced “over the past week has been intense.” Despite this, she reportedly explained that she accepts “full responsibility for the security breach.”
Due to this, Cheatle stated that she has chosen to “step down” as the organization’s director. The outlet adds that Cheatle’s letter allegedly did not indicate when her last day of service would be.
President Biden and Donald Trump react
President Joe Biden released a statement through the Official White House website amid reports of Cheatle’s resignation.
“Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service,” the president wrote. “…The independent review to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to evaluating its findings. We all know that what happened that day can never happen again…”
The president finally explained that he wishes Cheatle “all the best” before adding that he plans to “appoint a new director soon.”
About that, NBC News reports that former President Trump took to Truth Social to react to Cheatle’s decision.
“The Biden/Harris Administration failed to adequately protect me, and I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy. IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!” he wrote.
Brief History of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and Her Meeting with the House Committee
According to CBS NewsCheatle was named the 27th director from the U.S. Secret Service in 2022. The outlet adds that Cheatle served 27 years at the agency in other roles before that.
Additionally, the outlet notes that Cheatle was also a member of President Biden’s security team when he served as vice president under former President Obama.
On Monday, July 22, Cheatle met with the House Oversight and Accountability Committee to further discuss the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump. According to a press release shared by the committeeCheatle “failed to answer basic questions” about “glaring security flaws” that led to the fatal shooting.
“Director Cheatle was unable or unwilling to answer basic questions from members of the Committee, leading both Republican and Democratic members to call for Director Cheatle’s immediate resignation,” the statement read. “The American people demand answers, and the House Oversight Committee will work with Chairman Mike Johnson’s Task Force to investigate this security breach and examine remedies to ensure it does not happen again.”
According to NBC NewsCheatle responded broadly to the committee’s questions by stating that there was an ongoing investigation into the incident.
“I’m not going to go into the details of the day,” she reportedly explained at one point. “There was a plan in place to provide oversight, and we’re still reviewing the responsibilities.”
The outlet reports that Thomas Matthew Crooks, Trump’s assassin, was reportedly spotted on a rooftop by the Secret Service ten minutes before he opened fire at Trump’s Pennsylvania rally. The outlet adds that after Trump took the stage, twenty minutes “passed before he opened fire.”
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What do you think, roommates?