Kimberly Cheatle mocked for taking 'too long' to resign after assassination attempt on Donald Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday, July 23, after a contentious appearance before Congress in connection with the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.

Since the horrifying incident in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 during which Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired shots at Trump and grazed his right ear, Cheatle has been facing calls to step down.

Kimberly Cheatle says she takes responsibility for security laspe

The calls for Cheatle's resignation escalated after her testimony before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Monday, July 22.

During the hearing, she frustrated lawmakers by sidestepping questions and failed to provide detailed answers about the agency's failure in securing Trump's protection.

In the mail to staff on Tuesday, July 23, Cheatle said, “I take full responsibility for the security lapse."

“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director," she added, according to The Associated Press.

President Joe Biden praises Kimberly Cheatle

Praising Cheatle's's service, President Joe Biden called her "selflessly dedicated" and stated that “risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service.” 

“As a leader, it takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service," he added.

Kimberly Cheatle's admission of Secret Service's failure

During the testimony on Monday, July 22, Cheatle who has served the Secret Service for 30 years stated that she would not resign.

However, she acknowledged the agency's failure, stating, “The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13, we failed."

In the opening remarks during her hearing, Cheatle said, "As the director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse."

“We must learn what happened, and I will move heaven and earth to ensure an incident like July 13 does not happen again. Thinking about what we should have done differently is never far from my thoughts," she added.

The July 13 rally shooting resulted in one attendee's death and two others being critically injured. The Secret Service countersnipers killed the gunman in the shooting.

Internet criticizes Kimberly Cheatle's delayed resignation

As Cheatle announced her resignation more than a week after the rally shooting incident and a contentious appearance before the Congress in which she failed to provide detailed answers, netizens believe the resignation was long overdue and she should be questioned further.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Lies to Congress for a whole day, resigns the next day. What a piece of shit," while another user wrote, "Should have been fired!"

"It took too long. Should have happened the next day. The entire chain of command should resign too," a netizen commented and someone remarked, "Now she needs to be charged, convicted, and imprisoned."

"She had almost 30 years of service so she’s going back into retirement and as we all know the federal retirement is the best. She’s not hurting one bit but should be held liable for the incompetence where one died and others hurt," a netizen opined.

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