Calls for Secret Service Chief to Step Down After Trump Threat

In a rare bipartisan move, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, joined Republican Chairman James Comer in urging Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign. This call follows a contentious hearing where Cheatle acknowledged the agency's failure to protect former President Donald Trump during an assassination attempt on July 13, which resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore and injuries to others. The lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with Cheatle's inability to provide satisfactory answers regarding the agency's security measures during the incident. During the hearing, Cheatle testified under subpoena but frustrated committee members by declining to address critical questions about the Secret Service's preparations for Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. The shooting, carried out by 20-year-old Thomas Crooks from a rooftop 150 yards away, raised serious concerns about the agency's operational effectiveness. Cheatle maintained that the building from which Crooks fired was outside the designated security perimeter, placing responsibility on local police for securing the area. Despite the intense scrutiny and criticism, Cheatle has resisted calls for her resignation, labeling the incident as the most significant operational failure in decades for the Secret Service. She expressed condolences to Comperatore's family and emphasized her commitment to ensuring such an incident does not recur. The committee's demand for accountability and transparency remains unfulfilled, leaving many questions about the agency's future security protocols unanswered.