The director of the Secret Service, under fire since the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on July 13, resigned yesterday, the day after a tense parliamentary hearing during which she acknowledged failure.
Kimberly Cheatle, the head of this elite service responsible for protecting high-ranking American figures, has been the subject of numerous calls to resign since the shooting that slightly injured the right-wing candidate, from both Republican and Democratic elected officials. The Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, immediately welcomed her resignation.
In a statement, Democratic President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude to Ms. Cheatle “for her decades of service.” The president, however, made a point of mentioning the “independent” investigation that is to review the events of July 13 and determine how a shooter was able to end up so close to Donald Trump.
“In the name of democracy”
“I look forward to evaluating its findings,” Biden said, adding that he expected to appoint a new director “soon.” “We all know that what happened that day must never happen again.”
During a congressional hearing on Monday, Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged failings. “The solemn mission of the Secret Service is to protect our nation’s leaders […]”On July 13, we failed,” she said.
But she brushed aside calls for her resignation: “I think I’m the best person to lead the Secret Service right now,” she said. She also declined to answer numerous specific questions from lawmakers about the attack, saying multiple investigations were ongoing.
The Biden administration “failed to protect me properly, and I was forced to take a bullet in the name of democracy,” Donald Trump reacted yesterday on his Truth Social platform.
