Secret Service Director Faces Calls for Resignation After Assassination Attempt on Trump

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 in a joint letter, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency from the Secret Service. During the hearing, Cheatle admitted, "we failed" in the agency's mission to safeguard national leaders. However, her testimony frustrated committee members as she declined to answer critical questions regarding the security measures in place at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania and the agency's response to a local police alert about a suspicious individual. The gunman, Thomas Crooks, managed to fire from a rooftop approximately 150 yards away, raising serious concerns about the Secret Service's operational protocols. Cheatle defended the agency's actions, stating that the building from which Crooks fired was outside their designated security perimeter and that local police were responsible for that 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. In her closing remarks, Cheatle extended condolences to Comperatore's family, acknowledging the tragedy of the shooting while maintaining that investigations are ongoing to prevent future incidents.