Democratic leaders of House committees joined their Republican chairs on Monday in urging embattled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign after she complained about her agency’s failure to prevent a July 13 attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump. Brutal hearings were held on the Pu incident.
Chettle earlier told House Oversight and Accountability Committee “We failed” to maintain the agency’s “solemn mission to protect our nation’s leaders,” after Republican presidential candidate Trump was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
“Under your leadership, the U.S. Secret Service has failed to protect Former President Donald Trump was spared an assassination attempt that left Corey Comperatore in critical condition and seriously injured at least two others.
“Today, you failed to provide answers to basic questions about this egregious operational failure or to reassure the American people that the Secret Service has learned its lessons and begun correcting its systems,” Cuomo and Raskin wrote. Sexual Mistakes and Failures.
“During the presidential election, the Commission and the American people demanded serious agency accountability and transparency, and you have failed to provide it,” the lawmakers wrote.
“We call on you to resign as director as the first step in bringing in new leadership to quickly address this crisis and rebuild the trust of a truly concerned Congress and the American people.”
Chattel, who was subpoenaed to testify, declined to answer questions about the Secret Service’s security preparations for Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and how the Secret Service responded to local police notifying the Secret Service of a suspicious man at the event. Council members were frustrated by key issues such as responses.
Crooks was able to shoot Trump and rally members from the roof of a building some 150 years from where the Republican candidate was speaking.
Chatel and other Secret Service agents have repeatedly said the building was outside their agents’ security perimeter and that local police were tasked with protecting the complex from which Crooks fired his weapon. Chatel also said the fact that the roof slopes downward is one reason why law enforcement snipers were not deployed on the roof at the event.
“I’m not going to reveal the specific details of that day,” Chittle said Monday of the ongoing investigation into the shooting.
“Plans are in place to provide oversight and we are still investigating responsibility.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., blasted Chatel at one point, saying, “You’re full of bullshit today!”
“We have asked you multiple times to answer our questions,” Mays said.
Still, Chettle told the committee, “I believe I am the best person to lead the Secret Service right now.”
“We have to understand what happened, and I will do everything in my power to make sure an incident like July 13 never happens again,” Cheatle said.
“The July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was the Secret Service’s most significant operational failure in decades, and I have him and his family in my thoughts,” she said.
Even though the Secret Service failed to secure the roof of a building overlooking a Trump campaign rally site in Butler Township, Pa., and Crooks used it as a sniper position to shoot at the Republican presidential candidate and spectators, Chatel Refusing to resign despite the Secret Service’s failure to secure the building’s roof.
“I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the family of former fire chief and hero Corey Competore, who was killed in this senseless shooting,” Chatel said. “I would also like to express my sincerest condolences to Butte, Pa. I would like to express my gratitude to the injured David Dach and James (Copenhaver) and wish them a speedy recovery.”
Chatel also said, “As director of the U.S. Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapses.”
“As an agency, we are fully cooperating with the FBI investigation and the oversight you have initiated here, and with our own internal mission assurance review under my direction. Likewise, we will cooperate with the upcoming external review and Homeland Security Cooperation with the Ministry Inspector’s Office is general.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
Correction: James Copenhaver was injured in a shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania. An earlier version misspelled his name.
About The Author
