Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna grilled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle over failures in protecting former President Donald Trump during an assassination attempt. Luna expressed concerns about "stonewalling" by the Department of Homeland Security and demanded full transparency.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), a member of the House Oversight Committee, has voiced her determination to hold U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle accountable for security lapses that led to an attempt on former President Donald Trump's life. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Luna emphasized the importance of transparency and duty to the American people.
"I am looking forward to hearing from Director Cheatle this Monday and getting answers for the American people on the Secret Service's failure to take action that would have prevented the attempt on President Trump's life from happening," Luna declared.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Demands Answers from Secret Service over Trump Assassination Attempt
The impending hearing is expected to shed light on the agency's shortcomings in detecting and thwarting the assassination attempt. Luna expressed concern that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has attempted to obstruct the inquiry.
"I also would like to get answers on why Mayorkas' DHS tried to pull blatant bureaucratic stonewalling on us. They are not getting away with it, and we expect their full transparency," Luna asserted.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Demands Answers from Secret Service over Trump Assassination Attempt
Secret Service Director Cheatle faced criticism at the Republican National Convention, where she was confronted by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Senate Republican Conference Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
Meanwhile, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressed confidence in Cheatle's leadership, a sentiment that was met with skepticism by Republicans. The Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena to prevent DHS from backing down on Cheatle's scheduled appearance.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Demands Answers from Secret Service over Trump Assassination Attempt
In a joint statement, Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) condemned the attack on Trump as a "grave assault on democracy."
"Our Founders envisioned robust and spirited political debate in our nation, and we see that debate often in our Committee room. While we often have passionate disagreements about policies and investigative priorities, we are united in condemning all political violence and ensuring that America will prevent such a horrific event from ever happening again," they stated.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Demands Answers from Secret Service over Trump Assassination Attempt
The Oversight Committee's hearing on Monday is expected to delve into the specific failures that allowed 20-year-old dietary aide Thomas Crooks to scale a nearby building and nearly kill Trump. The Secret Service has pledged to enhance its security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Luna's unwavering determination to seek answers and hold the Secret Service accountable underscores the gravity of the security lapses and the need for thorough investigation and transparency. The American people deserve to know how such a serious breach could occur and what measures are being taken to prevent it from happening again.
