Representatives Ro Khanna and Byron Donalds call for Kimberly Cheatle to step down, citing her evasive testimony and lack of confidence in her ability to lead the Secret Service after the security lapse that endangered former President Trump's life.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee has demanded the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle following her unsatisfactory testimony regarding the assassination attempt on former President Trump. Representatives Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla., joined "Fox & Friends" to express their concerns and explain why they believe Cheatle should step down.
"Anybody that's watched the Oversight Committee knows we don't always agree on the Oversight Committee, but on this, it was basically unanimous," Donalds stated. "She needs to leave immediately. Should've happened yesterday, needs to happen today."
Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand Secret Service Director's Resignation Following Assassination Attempt on Trump
Donalds emphasized the gravity of the Secret Service's mission and the importance of protecting former presidents and their families. "This is not about just President Trump, although his life is what was put in jeopardy," he said. "It's about President Obama, President Clinton, President Bush, and President Biden. This is a very serious matter."
Cheatle testified under a subpoena on Monday but refused to answer many lawmakers' questions related to the security failures that led to the shooting at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, citing the ongoing criminal investigation. Despite admitting under oath that the Secret Service "failed" in its mission on July 13, she declined to step down, stating, "We must learn what happened, and I will move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13th does not happen again."
Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand Secret Service Director's Resignation Following Assassination Attempt on Trump
Khanna expressed his dissatisfaction with Cheatle's testimony, emphasizing that she does not have the confidence of the nation. "This is not a partisan issue. There was obviously a failure in protecting the former president in protecting a presidential candidate, and she simply doesn't have the confidence of the nation. There are a lot of people who do not trust her, so she needs to step aside," said Khanna.
She was being very evasive, stonewalling," Donalds added. "Like Ro said, not providing any confidence to any member on Capitol Hill that she's prepared to do the necessary work to fix what went wrong that day and to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand Secret Service Director's Resignation Following Assassination Attempt on Trump
Khanna compared the assassination attempt to the shooting of President Reagan in 1981, arguing that it was the most serious security lapse since that incident. Cheatle agreed, but has refused to resign despite calls from lawmakers.
"There has to be real accountability," Donalds said. "We can't do the political thing, and everybody just says, 'I'm going to be responsible. I'm going to own this. It's on my watch. I'm deeply sorry.' That's not good enough."
Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand Secret Service Director's Resignation Following Assassination Attempt on Trump
The lawmakers emphasized that the Secret Service's mission is unique and requires an exceptional level of trust and confidence, which they believe Cheatle has lost. They urged her to do the right thing and resign to allow for a thorough investigation and the implementation of necessary changes to prevent future security breaches.
