## **Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Resigns After Trump Assassination Attempt**
United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday following mounting pressure in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Trump. Cheatle tendered her resignation in a letter to the agency, taking full responsibility for the security lapse that led to the near-assassination of Trump on July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Resigns After Trump Assassination Attempt
Cheatle's resignation came a day after she testified before the House Oversight Committee, where she faced bipartisan criticism over the security failures at Trump's rally. House Republicans had been calling for her resignation, including Committee Chairman James Comer, who accused the agency under her leadership of being "the face of incompetence."
Despite the calls for her resignation, Cheatle initially resisted, maintaining that she would not step down. However, the mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle appears to have convinced her to reconsider her position.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Resigns After Trump Assassination Attempt
In her resignation letter, Cheatle acknowledged the "intense scrutiny" the Secret Service has faced in the wake of the assassination attempt. She stated that she takes "full responsibility for any security lapse of our agency" and vowed to "move heaven and earth" to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
The Secret Service's handling of security at Trump's rally has come under intense scrutiny after it was revealed that there were significant security lapses that allowed the assassin to fire at the former president.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Resigns After Trump Assassination Attempt
Cheatle's initial explanation for the security failures included details about the building from which the assassin fired. She said the roof of the building had a slope and that putting an agent on the roof for security would not have been safe.
However, during her testimony before the House Oversight Committee, she admitted that the Secret Service is still investigating the "advanced process" and decision made not to position an agent on the roof.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Resigns After Trump Assassination Attempt
Trump's security detail reportedly requested additional security from the Secret Service, but those requests were not met. This has raised questions about the agency's ability to provide adequate protection to protectees.
The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general has opened an investigation into the Secret Service's handling of security for the Trump rally. The investigation will examine the agency's decision-making process and response to the assassination attempt.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Resigns After Trump Assassination Attempt
The investigation is expected to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the security failures that led to the near-assassination of Trump and make recommendations to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
