USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle admits her agency failed to protect Donald Trump but refuses to step down
![USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle admits her agency failed to protect Donald Trump but refuses to step down](https://dxltb3n5j8l6j.cloudfront.net/706585/uploads/05554ce0-484e-11ef-b31c-d781ae10dd47_1200_630.jpeg)
BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle candidly acknowledged during her opening statement to Congress that her organization "failed" in its duty to safeguard former president Donald Trump.
Cheatle gave a testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, July 22, and was grilled by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. She has been asked to step down by a number of Republican lawmakers, but Cheatle has so far refused.
Director of Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle claims she takes "full responsibility" for the failure to protect President Donald Trump.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 22, 2024
If she truly accepts responsibility for the significant security failures, she should resign. pic.twitter.com/2ObmS2SX7M
Kimberly Cheatle says she takes full responsibility 'for any security lapse of our agency'
"The Secret Service's solemn mission is to protect our nation's leaders. On July 13, we failed," Cheatle said in her opening statement, according to Fox News. "As director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse of our agency. We are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations. We must learn what happened, and I will move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13th does not happen again," she added.
![(secretservice.gov)](https://pisco-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/d6bd5a38-2e20-48b9-bd3d-74416adf1b56.jpg)
Kimberly Cheatle thinks 'she's the best person to lead USSS'
Cheatle has stated that she accepts full responsibility for what transpired but she has also noted that she will not step down, saying that she thinks she is currently the best candidate to lead the Secret Service.
Cheatle made it clear that nothing in her testimony should be interpreted as a criticism of the local law enforcement or other security partners the Secret Service collaborated with at former president Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
![BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)](https://pisco-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/9d5e2e81-6ad3-4313-952b-d6e617bf080d.jpg)
Kimberly Chester refuses to provide any details due to ongoing investigation
Chairman James Comer, R-Ky, opened his questioning by asking whether a Secret Service agent had been on the roof the shooter used at any point on the day of the rally.
Cheatle circumvented the question, stating that investigations were still ongoing and she could not provide specifications. When Comer pressed further, Cheatle responded that the building was not inside the security perimeter surrounding Trump's rally.
![BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)](https://pisco-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/1b63efee-60e6-4fc6-9664-311359cf1efa.jpg)
Kimberly Chester admits shooter Thomas Crooks was identified as a suspicious individual beforehand
Subsequently, Cheatle verified to ranking committee member Representative Jamie Raskin, D-Md, that the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was recognized as a suspicious person prior to Trump's entrance.
Jamie Raskin is something else. He’s using his opening statement at the hearing for disgraced and incompetent Kimberly Cheatle as a platform to recite other mass shootings and attack the AR-15 and our 2A.
— 👉M-Û-R-Č-H👈 (@TheEXECUTlONER_) July 22, 2024
It was an attempt on Trump’s life.
Who thinks Jamie is a slimy POS? pic.twitter.com/PlAiqzqGAD
When he questioned Cheatle about why Trump was permitted to take the stage in spite of the danger, the representative replied that although Crooks had been found to be suspicious, he was not found to pose a threat.
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Chairman James Comer asks Kimberly Cheatle to step down
Cheatle will have to defend herself against questions from lawmakers for several hours during Monday's, July 22, hearing. Comer called on the director to step down with his own opening remarks, setting the tone for the day.
"It is my firm belief, Director Cheatle, that you should resign. However, in complete defiance, Director Cheatle has maintained she will not tender her resignation," Comer said in his remarks. "Therefore, she will answer questions today from members of this committee seeking to provide clarity to the American people about how these events were allowed to transpire," he added.
JUST IN: Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle can't answer almost all of Rep. James Comer's questions.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 22, 2024
This woman is way more incompetent than I thought.
Attendees were heard groaning in the background as Cheatle gaslit the American people.
Comer cornered Cheatle when he asked… pic.twitter.com/SNAV2n4TwC
Internet criticizes Kimberly Cheatle for not stepping down from her position
Netizens berated the US Secret Service Director for not giving up her position despite admitting her failure. Trump was fortunate enough to escape a close call after the bullet fired by Crooks brushed off his right ear and left him visibly bloodied on stage. The gunman was shot dead by the snipers within a few seconds.
One X user mocked, "She fits in PERFECTLY with the Biden administration." Another wrote, "If she wont resign then she needs to be fired!!! Over a week gone by and no one is accountable!!" "She won't be asked to resign. They're going to dig in like a tick on this one," remarked one while someone else wrote, "She’ll never resign and or be fired. She is protected by Obama."
If she wont resign then she needs to be fired!!! Over a week gone by and no one is accountable!!
— Steve McAloon (@SteveMcaloon) July 22, 2024
She won't be asked to resign. They're going to dig in like a tick on this one.
— Fp Pro (@Sprintracer4) July 22, 2024
She’ll never resign and or be fired. She is protected by Obama
— Carmen Diaz (@CarmenD91070790) July 22, 2024
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