'It’s inexcusable': Mike Johnson demands USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation after Trump's assassination attempt
WASHINGTON, DC: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) called for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.
Johnson also announced on Wednesday, July 17 that he will create a congressional task force to investigate the security failures at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania.
Speaker Mike Johnson demands accountability for USSS' failure to supervise Donald Trump's rally
When asked whether Kimberly Cheatle should resign, Mike Johnson said, “I’m going to call for resignation as well."
“I think it’s inexcusable,” he said on Fox News, referencing Cheatle's comments in an ABC News interview about the absence of law enforcement officers on the roof from which the shooter fired shots due to safety concerns over its slope.
“It doesn’t wash, and I think she’s shown what her priorities are. I don’t know her personally, but we’ll be asking lots of questions," said Johnson.
However, Cheatle has rejected calls for rejection and stated that she would not step down.
During the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a bullet grazed over Donald Trump's right ear, one attendee was killed and two others were critically injured.
The would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who allegedly climbed a building adjacent to where Trump was speaking was fatally shot by authorities.
At least six committees across both chambers of Congress have been investigating the assassination attempt, leading to increased tensions with the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Speaker Mike Johnson reveals special task force will have subpoena authority
Mike Johnson announced the creation of a special congressional task force to consolidate the various ongoing investigations into the security lapses.
“We’re going to move quickly. I’ll be setting up on Monday a task force, a special task force within the House,” said the speaker.
“And the reason we’re going to do it that way is because that is a more of a precision strike," he added.
Johnson revealed that the task force will have "subpoena authority" and will be avoiding procedural hurdles.
The task force will have both Republicans and Democrats, according to The Hill.
The House speaker revealed that he has been in contact with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and leaders at the FBI and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.
“There’s real questions, let’s just put it that way. The answers have not been forthcoming," said the speaker.
"I think they’re gathering data, we’re going to do it as well. We have to have accountability for this," he continued.
"It was inexcusable. Obviously, there were security lapses. You don’t have to be a special-ops expert to understand that," Johnson added.
