Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker slams Director Kimberly Cheatle for lack of security at Trump's rally and delayed response to the attack. Cheatle faces growing calls to step down amid accusations of prioritizing diversity initiatives over core mission.
The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania has sent shockwaves through the country and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the Secret Service. Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker has joined the chorus of critics, calling the security lapse an "epic fail" and accusing Director Kimberly Cheatle of inadequate leadership.
Parker points to the lack of Secret Service presence at Trump's rally as a glaring oversight. "Where was the Secret Service? This is their site. They should have had a representative there," she said. Additionally, she decried Cheatle's delayed response to the attack, saying, "If it is not important enough for her to show her face in light of a potential assassination, there is a time for her to come forward, and it's now."
Secret Service Chief Faces Pressure to Resign After Trump Assassination Attempt
Cheatle's statement released Monday acknowledging the attack has failed to quell concerns. "Secret Service personnel on the ground moved quickly," she wrote, but critics question the agency's overall preparedness and response. The lack of a Secret Service presence at the press conference held by local and FBI officials hours after the shooting further raised eyebrows.
The Secret Service has faced sharp criticism for its handling of the incident, with some reporters directly asking if any changes were made to the security plan after the shooting. Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the 2024 RNC security coordinator for the Secret Service, insisted that no changes had been made.
Secret Service Chief Faces Pressure to Resign After Trump Assassination Attempt
Cheatle expressed confidence in the security plan for the Republican National Convention, which she said had been strengthened after the weekend attack. However, her statement did not provide specific details on any improvements and has done little to quell growing calls for her resignation.
Since her appointment by President Biden in 2022, Cheatle has faced accusations of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over the agency's primary mission of protection. Critics argue that such initiatives are a distraction and that the focus should be solely on hiring the best-qualified candidates.
Secret Service Chief Faces Pressure to Resign After Trump Assassination Attempt
Former FBI agent Nicole Parker expressed concern that social justice agendas are taking precedence over the Secret Service's core mission. "Any of this diversity, equity, inclusion, any of this, it's a distraction from the true mission," she said.
The assassination attempt has brought into sharp focus the vulnerabilities in the Secret Service's security protocols and has cast doubt on the leadership of Director Kimberly Cheatle. As calls for her resignation intensify, the agency faces immense scrutiny and pressure to improve its efficacy in protecting high-profile individuals.
Secret Service Chief Faces Pressure to Resign After Trump Assassination Attempt
