The director of the Secret Service announced her resignation on Tuesday following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, which raised serious concerns about the agency’s effectiveness in protecting current and former presidents.
Kimberly Cheatle, who had been the Secret Service director since August 2022, faced mounting pressure to step down and multiple investigations after the shooter got alarmingly close to Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” Cheatle stated in an email to staff, obtained by The Associated Press. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”
Cheatle’s resignation is not expected to end the scrutiny of the agency following the July 13 incident. Her departure occurs at a crucial time before the Democratic National Convention and an active presidential campaign season.
Lawmakers have promised continued investigations, including an inspector general probe and an independent bipartisan effort initiated by President Joe Biden.
“The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases,” Cheatle wrote to her staff.
Her resignation follows her appearance before a congressional committee, where she was heavily criticized by both parties for the security failures.
Despite calling the attempt on Trump’s life the “most significant operational failure” in decades and accepting responsibility, Cheatle frustrated lawmakers by not providing specific answers about the investigation.
During the hearing, Cheatle insisted she was still the “right person” to lead the agency despite taking responsibility for the security lapses. When Republican Rep. Nancy Mace suggested she start drafting her resignation letter, Cheatle replied, “No, thank you.”
The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to get within 135 meters of Trump when he opened fire, despite heightened security due to a threat from Iran.
Cheatle admitted that the Secret Service had been warned about a suspicious individual multiple times before the rally and that the roof from which Crooks fired had been identified as a potential vulnerability. However, she did not explain why no agents were stationed on the roof.
Trump was quickly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents, and the shooter was killed by agency snipers.
Trump sustained an injury to his right ear, while one rally attendee was killed and two others critically injured.
“The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13th is the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades,” Cheatle told the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. “As the Director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse.”
Investigations are ongoing into the incident and the roles of both the Secret Service and local authorities.
Former top Secret Service agents have stated that the gunman should never have been allowed to access the roof.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas initially expressed full support for Cheatle, but calls for accountability came from all political sides.
Congressional committees moved to investigate, with Biden ordering an independent review and the Secret Service’s inspector general opening an investigation.
Cheatle had previously said she would not resign and called the shooting “unacceptable.” She emphasized that the agency is responsible for the former president’s protection: “The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service.”
Cheatle served in the Secret Service for 27 years before briefly leaving in 2021 to work at PepsiCo, returning in 2022 at Biden’s request. She was the first woman to be named assistant director of protective operations and the second woman to lead the agency. Biden praised her judgment and counsel when he announced her appointment.
