In a heated House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) sharply questioned President Joe Biden’s Secret Service Director, Kimberly Cheatle, over her earlier testimony, citing conflicting evidence and demanding action from Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY). Luna accused Cheatle of lying under oath after she initially claimed the Secret Service was unaware of a threat prior to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
As revealed in group chat communications obtained by law enforcement, the Secret Service actually became aware of a threat at around 5:59 p.m. On Monday, Luna presented this newly unearthed information, asking whether the Secret Service had in fact received information about a suspected threat at the time. Cheatle replied that they were only informed about a “suspicious individual,” prompting a lively exchange.
Rep. Luna expressed dismay over what she perceived as deliberately obfuscating the truth by the Secret Service director. She chastised Cheatle for failing to effectively protect Trump during his July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which allegedly makes all members of Congress feel exposed. “We are all sitting ducks with you directing the Secret Service,” Luna admonished, claiming that every single Congress member now feels less secure under her leadership.
Moreover, Luna contended that Cheatle’s actions compromised the nation’s security, sending the wrong message to adversaries that the country was vulnerable. “As a result,” she urged Comer, “I’m asking you to formally bring perjury charges against Director Cheatle.”
Meanwhile, Cheatle faces growing pressure to resign, fueled by a recent report that top officials denied requests to boost security for Trump over the past two years. Despite Democrat support for her ouster, however, she has reaffirmed her commitment to retaining her position, leaving the controversy unabated.
