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Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns after shooting failures as Trump says ‘I was not protected’

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EMBATTLED US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned after admitting her agency failed its foremost duty in protecting the nation’s leaders.

Cheatle’s resignation comes following the widespread backlash over her federal agency’s failure to protect former President Donald Trump from an assassination attempt on July 13.

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Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned[/caption]
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Cheatle’s resignation comes after the backlash over her federal agency’s failure to protect Donald Trump from an assassination attempt on July 13[/caption]
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A would-be assassin came within inches of killing former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania[/caption]
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House Committee on Oversight and Accountability members ripped Kimberly Cheatle over the security failure that almost led to Trump’s assassination[/caption]
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A Secret Service counter-sniper killed would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks seconds after he opened fire on Trump and rally-goers[/caption]
Trump responded to Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation by placing the blame on the Biden administration

Trump, who suffered a 2-centimeter wound in his right ear, lashed out at the Biden and Harris administration and blamed them for the incident.

“The Biden/Harris Administration did not properly protect me, and I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy. IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social after the news of Cheatle’s resignation broke.

Trump told Fox News’ Jesse Waters on Monday that Cheatle came to see him in the days following the assassination attempt.

“It went very nicely. She was very nice. I thought, but you know, somebody should have made sure there was nobody on that roof,” the presidential candidate, 78, told the outlet.

President Joe Biden, who has been out of public view since isolating with Covid-19 on July 17, thanked Cheatle for her “selfless” dedication.

“She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service,” Biden said in a statement.

“We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our Administration and we are grateful for her service to our family.

“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.”

The president confirmed that an independent review into the security breakdown at Trump’s campaign in Butler, Pennsylvania, is ongoing.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas appointed Ronald J. Rowe as acting Secret Service Director in the wake of Cheatle’s resignation.

President Biden said he plans on assigning a new Secret Service director soon.


This comes as:

‘YOU’RE FULL OF S**T’

Cheatle faced sharp criticism from irate lawmakers when she was ordered to appear at a House Oversight and Accountability Committee for a congressional hearing into the assassination attempt against Trump.

Several House lawmakers called on Cheatle to step down from her position over the security lapse that unfolded on July 13.

At one point, South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace began to swear at Cheatle, accusing the director of lying to the committee.

“You’re full of s**t today. You’re just being completely dishonest,’ Mace seethed.

Democratic lawmakers also urged Cheatle to resign from her post, noting that Stewart Knight, the then secret service head in 1981, had resigned after the assassination attempted against then-President Ronald Reagan.

“Do you really, genuinely, in your heart believe that you being in this role is what’s right for America at this moment?” California Democratic Representative Rohit Khanna said.

“You cannot go leading a Secret Service agency when there is an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate. I would say that about anyone,” Khanna added.

Cheatle’s lack of specific answers frustrated lawmakers who pressed her on details about Trump’s security in the hours leading up to the assassination attempt.

‘You’re not making this easy for us,” Democratic Representative Shontel Brown told the director after a series of non-answers.

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Representative Nancy Mace accused Kimberly Cheatle of lying to the Oversights committee[/caption]
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Kimberly Cheatle admitted her agency failed its foremost duty in protecting the nation’s leaders[/caption]
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Would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired eight shots at former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13[/caption]
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Donald Trump suffered a 2-centimeter wound in his right ear[/caption]

Cheatle took full responsibility for the security lapse, telling enraged lawmakers that she would “move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13 does not happen again.”

Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was among the lawmakers who demanded Cheatle step down as director.

“I’ve never seen a more incompetent woman in my life,” Greene wrote on X after the hearing.

‘WE FELL SHORT ON THAT MISSION’

The disgraced Secret Service director, 53, announced her resignation in a letter to staffers, NBC News first reported.

Cheatle admitted the agency’s sole mission of protecting the nation’s leaders failed on July 13.

“The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders and financial infrastructure. On July 13th, we fell short on that mission,” Cheatle wrote.

“The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases. As your Director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse.

“However, this incident does not define us. We remain an organization based on integrity and staffed by individuals of exceptional dedication and talent.

“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.”

Representative Nancy Mace told America’s Newsroom that Cheatle’s resignation was “the best thing.”

“We can still have her subpoenaed, even though she’s resigned, to appear before different committees, judiciary or before the Senate and other committees who are continuing this investigation,” she told the outlet.

“She can still be compelled by law to show up and answer questions even though she’s resigned.”

Kimberly Cheatle
Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation letter to staff[/caption]

How Kimberly Cheatle frustrated lawmakers at Trump assassination hearing

US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle enraged lawmakers from both parties when she was interrogated about the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

At Monday’s hearing about the agency’s security failures during the shooting, Cheatle insisted she wouldn’t step down despite multiple calls for her resignation.

“I think I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time,” Cheatle said at the hearing.

GOP Rep. Nancy Mace slammed Cheatle as “full of s**t” when she maintained that she wouldn’t resign.

Rep. Ro Khanna referenced the fact that the Secret Service director that served when President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 eventually resigned.

“Do you really, genuinely, in your heart, believe that you being in this role is what’s right for America at this moment?” Khanna asked.

Cheatle said that all possible resources that were asked for at Trump’s rally were used – but lawmakers said it wasn’t enough.

“For the event in Butler, there were no requests that were denied,” Cheatle said.

“Well, maybe they got tired of asking,” GOP Rep. Jim Jordan fired back.

Rep. James Comer said that officials lost confidence in the FBI after the shooting.

Cheatle answered questions carefully but still provided no real answers as to how Trump was allowed on the unsafe rally stage in the first place after the Secret Service had been notified up to five times that there was a suspicious person in the area.

She also said that she “wouldn’t give specifics” about that day as the investigation was ongoing.

Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown told Cheatle, “You’re not making this easy for us.”

Cheatle continued, “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that, I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director.

“As I stated in the hearing yesterday, all of you are worthy of trust and confidence.

“You deserve the nation’s support in carrying out our critical mission. One of my favorite things about this workforce is that the men and women are fiercely committed to our mission.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that Cheatle’s resignation was “overdue.”

“Now we have to pick up the pieces. We have to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service as an agency,” Johnson said.

“It has an incredibly important responsibility in protecting presidents, former presidents, and other officials in the executive branch, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

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Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene questioned Kimberly Cheatle as she testified during a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing[/caption]
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Democratic and Republican lawmakers called on Kimberly Cheatle to resign during Monday’s hearing[/caption]
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Secret Service agents pounced on Donald Trump immediately after Matthew Crooks opened fire on the presidential candidate[/caption]

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