US Secret Service Director, Kimberly Cheatle, Resigns

Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her position as director of the U.S. Secret Service after facing pressure from lawmakers who called for her to step down in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.  Cheatle announced her plans to leave her position in a letter to agency staff on Tuesday.  “As I’ve stated, the Secret Service will move forward with our investigatory and protective mission in a steadfast manner. We do not retreat from challenge. However, I do not want my calls for resignation to be a distraction from the great work each and every one of you do towards our vital mission,” Cheatle said. “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 reiterated that she takes “full responsibility” for the security lapse at Trump’s rally.  The US Government expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s career in public service and announced that a new director will be appointed soon.  “She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service. We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service and we are grateful for her 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.”

Former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 when a shooter opened fire from the rooftop of a building overlooking the crowd and the stage. The gunman, later identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, killed one attendee and wounded two others.  Trump was injured by a bullet that grazed his right ear. He appeared multiple times at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee the following week with a bandage over the ear.  The Secret Service quickly came under intense scrutiny, with questions mounting as to how the assassination attempt could have happened at such a high-profile event. Security and law enforcement officers from a number of different agencies were present at the rally and, according to multiple sources, were alerted to the suspect as early as 20 minutes before shots were actually fired.  Cheatle has said the Secret Service was in charge of organizing and managing the overall security protocol for the rally, and when she testified before Congress on July 22, she acknowledged it was a “significant operational failure.”  “The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13th, we failed,” she said.