Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service, resigned on Tuesday following intense scrutiny over security failures during the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Her resignation came amid bipartisan calls for her to step down, told Los Angeles Times.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” Cheatle stated in an email to staff. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”
On Monday, Cheatle admitted that local authorities had observed and photographed the would-be shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 18 minutes before Trump took the stage at a rally in Pennsylvania. This revelation came during a congressional committee hearing, where Cheatle described the incident as the agency’s “most significant operational failure” in decades.
In her letter to Secret Service staff, Cheatle emphasized that the failures leading to the shooting “do not define us.” She assured that the agency would continue its mission with determination, adding, “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.”
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appointed Ronald L. Rowe Jr., a 24-year veteran of the Secret Service, as the agency’s acting director. “I appreciate his willingness to lead the Secret Service at this incredibly challenging moment, as the agency works to get to the bottom of exactly what happened on July 13 and cooperate with ongoing investigations and Congressional oversight,” Mayorkas said in a statement.
Cheatle, who had a 29-year tenure with the Secret Service, previously served under former President Clinton, led protection for former Vice President Dick Cheney, and oversaw the agency’s protective mission during Trump’s presidency. She briefly retired before returning as director in August 2022. However, her performance during the congressional hearing left many lawmakers dissatisfied, leading to increased calls for her resignation.
President Biden expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s service, stating, “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.” He also highlighted the importance of the ongoing independent review to understand what happened on July 13, emphasizing that such an incident must never occur again.
Trump responded to the news on his social media platform, Truth Social, blaming the current administration for the shooting and stating he was “forced to take a bullet for Democracy,” adding, “IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!”, told NBC News.
During the congressional hearing, Cheatle revealed that local law enforcement had sent multiple messages to the Secret Service about the suspicious man later identified as the shooter. This information sparked bipartisan outrage, with House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) both calling for Cheatle’s resignation.
Crooks, 20, reportedly fired eight shots at Trump from a rooftop during the campaign event, injuring Trump’s ear, killing a spectator, and wounding two others. Within 10 seconds, a Secret Service sniper killed Crooks. Lawmakers demanded answers on how a man with a rifle could get within firing range of the former president, particularly from an uncovered rooftop.
Following Cheatle’s resignation, Comer promised more accountability for the security failures, stating, “We need a full accounting of how these security failures happened so that we can prevent them going forward.”
The Secret Service’s $3-billion budget and operational priorities are expected to face significant scrutiny in response to the shooting. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas and other leaders hope that Congress will address deficiencies within the service, rebuilding public faith and trust in the agency.