Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before a congressional hearing, describing the agency’s failure to protect former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as the “most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades”. Cheatle acknowledged that the Secret Service had failed in its mission to safeguard the nation’s leaders, taking full responsibility for any security lapse.
However, the director stopped short of announcing concrete measures for accountability, stating that the agency was “fully cooperating with ongoing investigations” and promising to “move heaven and earth” to prevent a similar incident in the future. Despite growing calls for her resignation, Cheatle indicated that she had no intention of stepping down, asserting that she was the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time.
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer and Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Turner both urged Cheatle to resign during the hearing.
However, Cheatle remained resolute, insisting that she was committed to implementing reforms and ensuring the agency’s integrity.
