Republican, Democrat Leaders Say Cheatle Should Resign
47 days ago
The chairman and ranking member of the House Oversight Committee called on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign in a rare bipartisan joint statement on Monday, following hours of questioning the agency director.
In a letter to Ms. Cheatle, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said she "failed to provide answers to basic questions regarding that stunning operational failure" during hours of questioning.
“In the middle of a presidential election, the Committee and the American people demand serious institutional accountability and transparency that you are not providing,” the two wrote.
“We call on you to resign as Director as a first step to allowing new leadership to swiftly address this crisis and rebuild the trust of a truly concerned Congress and the American people.”
Raskin Joins Calls for Cheatle’s Resignation
47 days ago
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Oversight Committee Democrat, closed out Monday's hearing by stating that he agreed with calls for Ms. Cheatle to resign.
“I think that this relationship is irretrievable at this point, and I think that the director has lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent and tender moment in the history of the country,” Mr. Raskin said.
His comments marked a rare moment of solidarity between him and the committee’s Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who advised that the pair will be requesting Ms. Cheatle’s resignation via letter.
“I think that this relationship is irretrievable at this point, and I think that the director has lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent and tender moment in the history of the country,” Mr. Raskin said.
His comments marked a rare moment of solidarity between him and the committee’s Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who advised that the pair will be requesting Ms. Cheatle’s resignation via letter.
Cheatle: Assailant Considered a Threat Only Seconds Before Shooting
47 days ago
Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) asked Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle when former President Donald Trump’s would-be assassin was officially deemed a threat by authorities on the scene.
“People can be suspicious, but they’re not a threat until a certain point in time. So, when did that happen?” Mr. Fry asked.
Ms. Cheatle answered that she believed it was just “seconds before the gunfire started.”
Agents were notified of "an issue being worked" about five minutes before, however.
“People can be suspicious, but they’re not a threat until a certain point in time. So, when did that happen?” Mr. Fry asked.
Ms. Cheatle answered that she believed it was just “seconds before the gunfire started.”
Agents were notified of "an issue being worked" about five minutes before, however.
Snipers stand on a roof at Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024. (Glen Van Tryfle/TMX via Reuters)
Former Sniper Rep. Crane Raises Questions at Rally Site
47 days ago
After touring the site where former President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) said “many questions still remain” as to how the shooter was not stopped before he opened fire.
“I’m on the roof of the building in Butler, PA where shots were fired in an attempt to assassinate President Trump,” Mr. Crane wrote in an X post.
“As a former Navy SEAL sniper, it was clear to me that many security measures were dropped making Pres. Trump extremely vulnerable.”
In an accompanying video, the congressman pointed out a nearby water tower, where Secret Service agents would have had a clear line of sight to the gunman had they been stationed there. He also questioned why the agents positioned within the building the shooter climbed were unable to quickly dispatch him from the windows through which they initially spotted him.
“I’m on the roof of the building in Butler, PA where shots were fired in an attempt to assassinate President Trump,” Mr. Crane wrote in an X post.
“As a former Navy SEAL sniper, it was clear to me that many security measures were dropped making Pres. Trump extremely vulnerable.”
In an accompanying video, the congressman pointed out a nearby water tower, where Secret Service agents would have had a clear line of sight to the gunman had they been stationed there. He also questioned why the agents positioned within the building the shooter climbed were unable to quickly dispatch him from the windows through which they initially spotted him.
Cheatle Does Not Have Detailed Timeline of Trump Shooting
47 days ago
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle shocked members of the House Oversight Committee with her admission that she does not have a detailed timeline of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
While under questioning by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Ms. Cheatle was asked if she had received any timeline of events from the July 13 rally.
“I have a timeline that does not have specifics,” Ms. Cheatle replied, drawing gasps of surprise from members of the committee.
“That’s shocking,” Ms. Greene said. “That is absolutely unacceptable. That means you are a failure at your job.”
While under questioning by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Ms. Cheatle was asked if she had received any timeline of events from the July 13 rally.
“I have a timeline that does not have specifics,” Ms. Cheatle replied, drawing gasps of surprise from members of the committee.
“That’s shocking,” Ms. Greene said. “That is absolutely unacceptable. That means you are a failure at your job.”
Director Spoke to All Agents on Ground
47 days ago
Ms. Cheatle testified that she has spoken to every agent who was at the July 13 rally.
The Secret Service director largely declined to delve into specifics of the discussions when pressed by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).
"We are putting together a comprehensive report, so that I can identify the gaps and failures," she said.
The director said the gunman was dubbed a threat by agents on the ground less than five minutes before the shooting occurred.
Ms. Cheatle also said the countersniper who took out the gunman fired a single shot.
The Secret Service director largely declined to delve into specifics of the discussions when pressed by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).
"We are putting together a comprehensive report, so that I can identify the gaps and failures," she said.
The director said the gunman was dubbed a threat by agents on the ground less than five minutes before the shooting occurred.
Ms. Cheatle also said the countersniper who took out the gunman fired a single shot.
United Sates Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testifies before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee during a hearing at Capitol on July 22, 2024. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Protection Increased in Wake of Shooting
47 days ago
The Secret Service has increased the protection for some individuals in the wake of the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Trump, the agency's director said.
The agency currently provides protection for 36 individuals, including President Joe Biden and former President Trump.
"Some of it has been as a result of the tragic incident that occurred on the 13th," Ms. Cheatle, the Secret Service director, told lawmakers, referring to the Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
"We went back and reassessed where we were at in providing protection, and wanted to make sure that we were not overlooking anything considering this most recent incident," she added.
The agency currently provides protection for 36 individuals, including President Joe Biden and former President Trump.
"Some of it has been as a result of the tragic incident that occurred on the 13th," Ms. Cheatle, the Secret Service director, told lawmakers, referring to the Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
"We went back and reassessed where we were at in providing protection, and wanted to make sure that we were not overlooking anything considering this most recent incident," she added.
Secret Service Investigating Why Threat of Trump Gunman Wasn’t Communicated, Director Says
Secret Service snipers return fire after former President Donald Trump was shot at the campaign event. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo)
Jack Phillips
Last Updated:
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told a House Oversight panel Monday that her agency is still investigating questions about why a Trump rally was allowed to continue even though members of the crowd saw Thomas Matthew Crooks on the roof of a building.
“We are still combing through communications and when communications were passed,” Ms. Cheatle said, adding that the Secret Service would have stopped the rally if they knew there was an actual threat to former President Donald Trump on July 13.
She added, “I don’t know all of the communications” on that day, adding officials are “going back and looking at communications to know when the information about a suspicious person was passed to Secret Service personnel.”
During her testimony Monday, Ms. Cheatle answered few questions directly, saying that her agency is still investigating why an agent was not stationed on a roof where the suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire on former President Trump earlier this month.
Ms. Cheatle said that her agency is “still looking into the advance process and the decision made” as to why a person wasn’t put on the roof.
“The building was outside of the perimeter on the day of the visit. But again, that is one of the things that during the investigation, we want to take a look at and determine whether or not other decisions should have been made,” Ms. Cheatle told the Oversight Committee.
She added, “I’m not going to get into the specifics of the numbers of personnel that we had there, but we feel that there was a sufficient number of agents assigned” to the Trump rally. “We’re only nine days out from this incident and there is still an ongoing investigation.”
Witnesses and law enforcement officials say the suspect walked around on the grounds for at least half an hour before climbing onto the roof of a building adjacent to the Butler Farm Show grounds, where the 45th president was speaking. As numerous spectators screamed for police to respond, the gunman let loose a quick succession of shots.
A Secret Service counter sniper fired back within about 15 seconds, killing Mr. Crooks with a shot to the head, officials previously said.
Prior to the shooting, a local law enforcement officer had briefly encountered the suspect after being lifted up to the roof before Mr. Crooks pointed his rifle at him, forcing the officer to drop back to the ground, local authorities said.
Cheatle Confirms Rangefinder, Serial Number Details
Ms. Cheatle told Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) that the suspect used a rangefinder at the rally, noting that such devices are not prohibited from public events such as rallies.Mr. Raskin, the Oversight Committee’s ranking member, also asked her about how the suspect was identified, noting that he did not have a driver’s license or another form of identification. She confirmed that a serial number on the AR-style rifle was used to identify the shooter.
When asked about a statement issued by Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi over the weekend that confirmed the agency denied some security requests made by the Trump campaign, she said that no requests for the rally in Butler were denied by the agency.
“I can tell you in general terms that the Secret Service is judicious with its requests,” Ms. Cheatle said.
In the hearing, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) both suggested that she resign in the wake of the assassination attempt that targeted former President Trump, which injured his right ear and left one person dead and two others injured.
“It is my firm belief, Director Cheatle, that you should resign. However, in complete defiance, Director Cheatle has maintained she will not tender her resignation,” Mr. Comer stated. “Therefore, she will answer questions today from members of this committee seeking to provide clarity to the American people about how these events were allowed to transpire.”
Later in the hearing, Ms. Cheatle said that she believes she is “the best person” to lead the Secret Service, rebuffing the calls to step down. Earlier, she admitted that her agency suffered a “significant operational failure” during the Butler shooting.
“We must learn what happened, and I will move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13 does not happen again,” the director also said. “Our agents, officers, and support personnel understand that every day we are expected to sacrifice our lives to execute a no fail mission.”
Cheatle Has Not Visited Shooting Site
47 days ago
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told members of the House Oversight Committee that she has not visited the site where former President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated.
Her admission shocked Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas).
“Nine days and you have not visited the site. You should have been there that night,” Mr. Fallon said.
He went on to ask Ms. Cheatle if she spoke with the former president’s Secret Service detail on the night of the shooting. She replied that she did not, as they were still on duty, but she called them the next day.
Her admission shocked Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas).
“Nine days and you have not visited the site. You should have been there that night,” Mr. Fallon said.
He went on to ask Ms. Cheatle if she spoke with the former president’s Secret Service detail on the night of the shooting. She replied that she did not, as they were still on duty, but she called them the next day.
Multiple Nearby Buildings Outside Security Perimeter: Cheatle
47 days ago
The building from which the shooter fired at former President Trump was one of multiple nearby buildings that were placed outside the Secret Service's security perimeter, Ms. Cheatle told members.
The building was about 430 feet from the rally stage.
The director declined to delve into specifics of the Butler rally's perimeter but said that in general when Secret Service agents develop security plans and leave out buildings or other nearby areas of concern, they implement "overwatch" as a mitigation tactic.
"There was overwatch on that building that day," she said.
When asked whether overwatch meant a drone, Ms. Cheatle said she was not going to say.
Butler County officials previously said that the Secret Service told local officials it lacked the manpower to secure the building that the shooter ultimately utilized.
The building was about 430 feet from the rally stage.
The director declined to delve into specifics of the Butler rally's perimeter but said that in general when Secret Service agents develop security plans and leave out buildings or other nearby areas of concern, they implement "overwatch" as a mitigation tactic.
"There was overwatch on that building that day," she said.
When asked whether overwatch meant a drone, Ms. Cheatle said she was not going to say.
Butler County officials previously said that the Secret Service told local officials it lacked the manpower to secure the building that the shooter ultimately utilized.
Cheatle: Shooting Was Preventable
47 days ago
Amid a series of yes or no questions from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle admitted that the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was preventable.
When asked if she thought that was the case, she said, “Yes.” And her response was the same when asked if the Secret Service had been transparent with the committee.
But on that response, Ms. Mace disagreed with the director.
“We had to issue a subpoena to get you to show up today. That is not transparent, by the way.”
The congresswoman noted that Ms. Cheatle did not provide the committee with the names of the former president’s Secret Service detail or the audio recordings from that day, as requested. She also pointed out that Ms. Cheatle’s written testimony for the committee was leaked to several media outlets hours before the committee received it.
When asked if she thought that was the case, she said, “Yes.” And her response was the same when asked if the Secret Service had been transparent with the committee.
But on that response, Ms. Mace disagreed with the director.
“We had to issue a subpoena to get you to show up today. That is not transparent, by the way.”
The congresswoman noted that Ms. Cheatle did not provide the committee with the names of the former president’s Secret Service detail or the audio recordings from that day, as requested. She also pointed out that Ms. Cheatle’s written testimony for the committee was leaked to several media outlets hours before the committee received it.
Secret Service Investigation Estimated to Take 60 Days
47 days ago
The final report of an internal Secret Service investigation into the assassination attempt and how the service handled the matter is slated to take 60 days, Ms. Cheatle told members.
Ms. Cheatle said that the agency is still conducting interviews as she declined to tell Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) her personal analysis of what went wrong in Pennsylvania where former President Trump was shot.
Lawmakers criticized the two-month timeframe of the investigation.
"The notion of a report coming out in 60 days, when the threat environment is so high in the United States, irrespective of party, is not acceptable," Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said. "This is about the safety of some of the highly targeted and valued targets, internationally and domestically, in the United States of America."
Ms. Cheatle said that the agency is still conducting interviews as she declined to tell Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) her personal analysis of what went wrong in Pennsylvania where former President Trump was shot.
Lawmakers criticized the two-month timeframe of the investigation.
"The notion of a report coming out in 60 days, when the threat environment is so high in the United States, irrespective of party, is not acceptable," Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said. "This is about the safety of some of the highly targeted and valued targets, internationally and domestically, in the United States of America."
Security Agencies Protecting Trump Did Not Communicate Directly During Rally: Report
Former President Donald Trump leaves after officially accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 20, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Naveen Athrappully
Last Updated:
Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump found that the various groups tasked with protecting him, including snipers, SWAT teams, and the Secret Service, had no direct communications with each other and were operating on separate channels.
The attempt to assassinate former President Trump took place on July 13 at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The event was put under the protection of various agencies, including the Secret Service, Butler County Emergency Services (Butler ESU), snipers from Washington County and Beaver County, and local SWAT teams, a July 21 report from Mr. Johnson said.
Communications between the different entities at the rally were “siloed,” meaning they talked mostly among themselves and were cut off from each other, local law enforcement officials told Mr. Johnson’s office.
“For example, local SWAT and sniper teams operated on separate radio channels from patrol. According to these individuals, communications had to be routed to Butler ESU command, who would then relay information to either Secret Service or other local law enforcement patrols,” the report said.
“It is unclear why communications were set up this way and whether the lack of direct communications between local law enforcement and Secret Service hindered any response time or decision-making.”
Identifying and reporting the individual who shot at the former president went through several channels of communication.
At 5:10 p.m., almost an hour before President Trump was shot, a sniper observed the individual who shot the former president. At 5:38 p.m., the sniper reported the suspect to other snipers. He was asked to report it to the Butler ESU command.
The sniper contacted the command at 5:41 p.m. and conveyed the information. At 5:49 p.m., he sent photos of the suspect. Six minutes later, Butler ESU confirmed receipt of the photos and said the sniper’s concerns were relayed to other security groups.
Between 6:06 p.m. and 6:12 p.m., the sniper went to meet local law enforcement and alert them to the suspect’s presence. At around 6:11 p.m., the suspect started shooting.
“To date, there are public reports that a ‘counter sniper flagged a suspicious man using a rangefinder to the Secret Service some 20 minutes before a gunman opened fire’ at the rally. The information obtained by Senator Johnson’s office appears to confirm these reports,” the July 21 report said.
On July 14, Mr. Johnson sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting detailed information about the assassination attempt.
Mr. Johnson said in the report that the DOJ, DHS, and the FBI have failed to provide any of the information requested in his letter and “have not even confirmed that they will preserve the relevant records.”
“The lack of transparency from federal entities regarding the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt—which left former President Trump wounded, one rally goer dead, and two other spectators critically injured—is unacceptable,” the senator said.
Shooting Investigations
Following the assassination attempt, investigations into the attack are currently underway by Congress, the DHS, and the FBI.Republican lawmakers have called on U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down from her post. However, the Secret Service director has dismissed such calls, promising full transparency on the issue. She accepted full responsibility for the security failures that took place on July 13.
Pennsylvania Republicans are calling for a state probe into the incident. On July 19, Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Pa.) introduced a resolution seeking the formation of a House Select Committee to probe the matter.
The bipartisan committee would be composed of three Republicans and three Democrats. It will analyze how local law enforcement planned to handle the rally, how they coordinated with federal agencies, and their response to the threat.
“One Pennsylvanian died and two were critically wounded as an assassin nearly took the life of a former president and the nominee of a major political party in the upcoming election,” Mr. Cutler said in a statement.
“We must ask the questions of why, and what we can do to prevent this from happening in the future.”
Cheatle: No Employees Disciplined Over Trump Shooting
47 days ago
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said no agency employees have been disciplined over the security failures at former President Donald Trump’s July 13 rally.
The reason, she said, is that the FBI investigation is still underway.
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) was dissatisfied with that response.
“You’re the person that runs the place—you’re the person that knows right from wrong, good from bad,” Mr. Sessions said. “You’ve had a number of days, and now you come before this committee, knowing you’re going to be before us, and you’ve got to slough it off to someone else.”
The congressman pressed Ms. Cheatle for specifics on what the Secret Service did wrong.
She replied by assuring that there would be accountability, but only after she receives “a full and complete report.”
The reason, she said, is that the FBI investigation is still underway.
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) was dissatisfied with that response.
“You’re the person that runs the place—you’re the person that knows right from wrong, good from bad,” Mr. Sessions said. “You’ve had a number of days, and now you come before this committee, knowing you’re going to be before us, and you’ve got to slough it off to someone else.”
The congressman pressed Ms. Cheatle for specifics on what the Secret Service did wrong.
She replied by assuring that there would be accountability, but only after she receives “a full and complete report.”
Cheatle Rebuffs Bipartisan Calls to Resign
47 days ago
Ms. Cheatle several times during the hearing said she will not be stepping down.
"I think I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time," she said at one point.
Ms. Cheatle added later, when questioned if she believes the majority of Americans have confidence in her leadership, "I believe that the country deserves answers, and I am committed to finding those answers, and providing those answers."
Several Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), joined Republicans in calling for Ms. Cheatle to resign.
"If you have an assassination attempt on a president, or a candidate, you need to resign," he said.
Mr. Khanna noted that Stuart Knight resigned as director of the Secret Service in 1981 after the shooting of President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Knight "took responsibility," he said.
"I think I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time," she said at one point.
Ms. Cheatle added later, when questioned if she believes the majority of Americans have confidence in her leadership, "I believe that the country deserves answers, and I am committed to finding those answers, and providing those answers."
Several Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), joined Republicans in calling for Ms. Cheatle to resign.
"If you have an assassination attempt on a president, or a candidate, you need to resign," he said.
Mr. Khanna noted that Stuart Knight resigned as director of the Secret Service in 1981 after the shooting of President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Knight "took responsibility," he said.
A photograph of Former President Donald Trump by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci is seen as United Sates Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testifies before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee during a hearing at Capitol on July 22, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Agency Investigating Why Threat of Shooter Not Communicated
47 days ago
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told a House Oversight panel Monday that her agency is still investigating questions why a Trump rally was allowed to continue even as witnesses of the crowd saw Thomas Matthew Crooks on the roof of a building with a direct line of sight to the former president.
“We are still combing through communications and when communications were passed,” Ms. Cheatle said, adding that the Secret Service would have stopped the rally if they knew there was an actual threat to former President Donald Trump in the July 13 shooting.
She added, “I don’t know all of the communications” on that day, adding that officials are "going back and looking at communications to know when the information about a suspicious person was passed to Secret Service personnel."
Director Defends Not Pausing Rally
47 days ago
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said the rally was not paused because agents on the ground did not identify a threat before shots were fired at former President Trump.
"The Secret Service would have paused the rally had they known ... there was an actual threat," Ms. Cheatle told Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).
Mr. Krishnamoorthi highlighted how state police informed Secret Service agents of concern about the shooter about 20 minutes before the man fired the shots, that the Secret Service notified its snipers about the gunman shortly after, and two minutes before the shots were fired, people at the rally were shouting about the man being on the roof of a nearby building.
Ms. Cheatle said the shooter was identified as suspicious but not as a threat.
"That doesn't look like suspicious behavior, that looks like threatening behavior to me," Mr. Krishnamoorthi said, pointing to video footage of the man on the roof.
"The people that are in charge of protecting the president on that day would never bring the former president out if there was a threat that had been identified," Ms. Cheatle said.
"The Secret Service would have paused the rally had they known ... there was an actual threat," Ms. Cheatle told Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).
Mr. Krishnamoorthi highlighted how state police informed Secret Service agents of concern about the shooter about 20 minutes before the man fired the shots, that the Secret Service notified its snipers about the gunman shortly after, and two minutes before the shots were fired, people at the rally were shouting about the man being on the roof of a nearby building.
Ms. Cheatle said the shooter was identified as suspicious but not as a threat.
"That doesn't look like suspicious behavior, that looks like threatening behavior to me," Mr. Krishnamoorthi said, pointing to video footage of the man on the roof.
"The people that are in charge of protecting the president on that day would never bring the former president out if there was a threat that had been identified," Ms. Cheatle said.
Democrats Focus to Gun Control
47 days ago
Several Democrats on the Oversight Committee focused their questioning of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on highlighting their preference for stricter gun laws.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the committee’s top Democrat, noted that former President Donald Trump’s shooter was identified by the serial number of his AR-15 thanks to a controversial tracing system that gun rights activists oppose.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), meanwhile, lamented that Republican lawmakers have sought to block and repeal strict Washington gun laws, including bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Referencing the 2025 appropriations bill for the federal government, Ms. Norton noted that the bill would allow anyone with a state-issued permit to carry a concealed firearm to do so in Washington as well.
“A Republican has filed an amendment to that provision to allow such an individual to carry a magazine of any size with that handgun,” she added.
And Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) suggested that the “ubiquity of guns” in the United States only makes the Secret Service’s mission more difficult.
Director: Secret Service Is 1,500 Personnel Short of What It Needs
47 days ago
The Secret Service has about 8,000 employees, which is short of what the agency needs, Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle said.
"We are still striving towards a number of 9,500 employees, approximately, in order to meet future and emerging needs," she told Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.).
The House of Representatives in a 2015 investigative report said it found the Secret Service was experiencing a staffing crisis that started in 2011 with the number of employees dropping across all categories of employment.
Members said at the time the three primary causes were budget cuts, systemic mismanagement at the agency, and morale issues.
Shooter Had Rangefinder: Cheatle
47 days ago
Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle testified that the man who shot former President Trump had a rangefinder on him.
"Yes, he did," Ms. Cheatle told Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.).
She said that at a number of sites protected by the Secret Service, particularly outdoor venues, rangefinders are not prohibited.
"It is sometimes an item brought in by individuals who are going to be in the back of [the crowd]," she said.
It was not clear if any Secret Service agents confronted the shooter after learning he had a rangefinder, the director said.
Ms. Cheatle also said the gunman was identified as a suspicious person before former President Trump took the stage.
The former president was allowed to take the stage because there's a difference between a suspicious person and a threat, Ms. Cheatle told Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).
"Yes, he did," Ms. Cheatle told Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.).
She said that at a number of sites protected by the Secret Service, particularly outdoor venues, rangefinders are not prohibited.
"It is sometimes an item brought in by individuals who are going to be in the back of [the crowd]," she said.
It was not clear if any Secret Service agents confronted the shooter after learning he had a rangefinder, the director said.
Ms. Cheatle also said the gunman was identified as a suspicious person before former President Trump took the stage.
The former president was allowed to take the stage because there's a difference between a suspicious person and a threat, Ms. Cheatle told Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).
Rep. Turner Says FBI Director Was ‘Incensed’ by Secret Service Threat Assessment Level for Trump Rally
47 days ago
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said that FBI Director Christopher Wray was “incensed” when he learned that the Secret Service’s threat assessment for former President Donald Trump’s July 13 rally did not take recent Iranian threats on his life into account.
“He was incensed. He was shocked that the threat assessment of Iran did not seem to be, as we discussed, baked in to your security footprint and your threat assessment,” Mr. Turner said, citing committee members’ briefing on the investigation from the FBI last week.
Mr. Turner also referenced other comments made by Mr. Wray at recent hearings pointing to the crisis at the southern border as a national security threat that could lead to potential terrorist attacks.
“He was incensed. He was shocked that the threat assessment of Iran did not seem to be, as we discussed, baked in to your security footprint and your threat assessment,” Mr. Turner said, citing committee members’ briefing on the investigation from the FBI last week.
Mr. Turner also referenced other comments made by Mr. Wray at recent hearings pointing to the crisis at the southern border as a national security threat that could lead to potential terrorist attacks.
Cheatle Doesn’t Say How Many Times Agency Declined Trump Requests
47 days ago
Under questioning from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said that "there were no requests that were denied" at the Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
"A denial of a request does not equal a vulnerability ... threats can be mitigated" with technology and other resources, Ms. Cheatle said.
Mr. Jordan had made reference to a statement issued by Secret Service spokesman Anthony Gugliemi over the weekend that suggested the agency had denied the Trump campaign's requests for more Secret Service security, going back on an earlier statement that said such requests were never denied.
"I can tell you in general terms that the Secret Service is judicious with its requests," Ms. Cheatle said.
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is sworn in before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, at the Capitol on July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
Cheatle Confirms Shooter Was Identified by Rifle Serial Number
47 days ago
Citing news reports, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) asked Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle about the information that led to law enforcement identifying the shooter.
“It’s been reported that the shooter was not carrying a driver’s license or any form of identification,” Mr. Raskin noted. “They had no idea who he was, but then he was quickly identified, I think within 30 minutes, by using the serial number on the AR-15 under a tracing system that is now controversial.”
Asked to confirm if those reports were true, Ms. Cheatle replied: “That is my understanding, sir, yes.”
“It’s been reported that the shooter was not carrying a driver’s license or any form of identification,” Mr. Raskin noted. “They had no idea who he was, but then he was quickly identified, I think within 30 minutes, by using the serial number on the AR-15 under a tracing system that is now controversial.”
Asked to confirm if those reports were true, Ms. Cheatle replied: “That is my understanding, sir, yes.”
Cheatle Doesn’t Answer If Secret Service Had Anyone on Roof
47 days ago
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) kicked off his line of questioning by asking U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle if any Secret Service agents were stationed on the roof the shooter was positioned on.
Referencing the ongoing investigation, Ms. Cheatle did not answer that question. She also declined to say how many agents were assigned to former President Donald Trump for the event but did note that she thought it was “a sufficient number.”
She would not say whether the Secret Service deployed drones to secure the event.
The Federal Aviation Administration told The Epoch Times that the Secret Service did not request to use drones on that day.
Referencing the ongoing investigation, Ms. Cheatle did not answer that question. She also declined to say how many agents were assigned to former President Donald Trump for the event but did note that she thought it was “a sufficient number.”
She would not say whether the Secret Service deployed drones to secure the event.
The Federal Aviation Administration told The Epoch Times that the Secret Service did not request to use drones on that day.
Secret Service Director Admits ‘Significant Operational Failure’ in Trump Assassination Attempt
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is seen in a file photo. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)
Jack Phillips
Last Updated:
The director of the U.S. Secret Service told a House panel on Monday that her agency failed during the assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump.
“The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13th, we failed. As the Director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse,” Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told the House Oversight Committee in prepared remarks after she was subpoenaed, adding that the shooting was the “most significant operational failure in decades.”
During the July 13 incident at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman fired at the former president, striking him in the right ear as well as killing one person and wounding two others.
“We must learn what happened and I will move heaven and earth to ensure an incident like July 13th does not happen again. Thinking about what we should have done differently is never far from my thoughts,” Ms. Cheatle said.
Her appearance before the panel occurred as numerous Republican lawmakers and at least one Democrat congressman have demanded that she resign from her position, saying that her agency did not do enough to provide security to the former president. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are among those who have called on Ms. Cheatle to step down.
The House Oversight panel’s chairman, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), said Monday that the Secret Service underperformed in its “zero-fail mission,” saying there are questions that the agency “lacks the proper management” and also chided it for what he described as a lack of transparency. Instead of providing statements to the public, the Secret Service is delivering information through “whistleblowers” and “leaks” to the media, he said.
“It is my firm belief that ... you should resign,” Mr. Comer told the agency director at the start of the hearing on Monday morning. “I urge Director Cheatle to be transparent in her testimony today,” he added.
However, in the midst of such pressure, Ms. Cheatle told ABC News in an interview last week that the shooting was “unacceptable,” stressing that her agency will cooperate with investigations and reviews into the near-assassination.
“I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary,” she told the network.
She also has, so far, resisted calls to step down, saying in an interview last week that “I do plan to stay on.”
The attack on Trump was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. It was the latest in a series of security lapses by the agency that has drawn investigations and public scrutiny over the years.
President Joe Biden has ordered an independent investigation. The Homeland Security Department and a bipartisan independent panel have said they are also investigating the matter.
On Sunday evening, Ms. Cheatle said in a statement that she would cooperate with the independent review carried out by a so-called “Blue Ribbon Panel.”
“I look forward to the panel examining what happened and providing recommendations to help ensure it will never happen again,” the director said.
Trump Says He Wasn’t Warned
In an interview over the weekend on Fox News, former President Trump said he was given no indication that law enforcement had identified a suspicious person when he took the stage in Pennsylvania. Some rallygoers said in interviews after the attempted assassination that they saw the gunman on the roof before the former president walked out onto the stage and had alerted law enforcement authorities on site.In an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters, former President Trump said, “No, nobody mentioned it, nobody said there was a problem” before he took the stage and a gunman opened fire.
“They could’ve said, ‘Let’s wait for 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 5 minutes, something.’ Nobody said. I think that was a mistake,” the former president said.
He also questioned the security lapses and how the gunman was able to access the roof of the building. “How did somebody get on that roof? And why wasn’t he reported? Because people saw that he was on the roof,” he said. “So you would’ve thought someone would’ve done something about it.”
Local law enforcement officers had seen the man and deemed him suspicious enough to put out an alert on a tactical channel and witnesses reported seeing him scaling the building.
After the shooting, the FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the suspect. He was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper moments after he opened fire.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cheatle on Secret Service’s ‘Most Significant Operational Failure’ in Decades
47 days ago
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle opened her remarks by describing the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump as “the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades.”
Offering the former president and other victims from that day her thoughts and condolences, Ms. Cheatle acknowledged that the Secret Service had failed in its mission to protect the nation’s leaders at the former president’s July 13 rally in Pennsylvania.
“As the director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse of our agency,” she said. “We are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations. We must learn what happened, and I will move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13 does not happen again.”
Offering the former president and other victims from that day her thoughts and condolences, Ms. Cheatle acknowledged that the Secret Service had failed in its mission to protect the nation’s leaders at the former president’s July 13 rally in Pennsylvania.
“As the director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse of our agency,” she said. “We are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations. We must learn what happened, and I will move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13 does not happen again.”
Oversight Hearing Kicks Off With Speaker Johnson Present
47 days ago
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was in attendance as the first Oversight Committee hearing to investigate the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life began.
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will testify to the failings that allowed a would-be assassin to fire off several shots at a Pennsylvania rally, killing one attendee and injuring several others, including the former president.
Ahead of the hearing, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) revealed via social media that Ms. Cheatle did not provide the committee with her written testimony, as is customary. The congresswoman also noted that the director failed to provide audio recordings from the July 13 shooting and the names of those on the former president’s Secret Service detail, despite the committee’s requests for those materials.
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will testify to the failings that allowed a would-be assassin to fire off several shots at a Pennsylvania rally, killing one attendee and injuring several others, including the former president.
Ahead of the hearing, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) revealed via social media that Ms. Cheatle did not provide the committee with her written testimony, as is customary. The congresswoman also noted that the director failed to provide audio recordings from the July 13 shooting and the names of those on the former president’s Secret Service detail, despite the committee’s requests for those materials.
Secret Service Director: ‘Eager to Cooperate’ With Independent Review
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle speaks during a press conference at the Secret Service's Chicago Field Office in Chicago, on June 4 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Melanie Sun
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U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said Sunday that she is “eager to cooperate with the independent security review” of the agency’s failure in preventing the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13.
In a statement, Ms. Cheatle expressed her full support for an independent review conducted by a “Blue Ribbon Panel” that will add to investigations by Congress, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General over the Secret Service’s actions after former President Trump came within an inch of being assassinated by a 20-year-old male shooter in Pennsylvania.
“I look forward to the panel examining what happened and providing recommendations to help ensure it will never happen again,” the director said.
“The U.S. Secret Service is continuing to take steps to review our actions internally and remain committed to working quickly and transparently with other investigations,” she said.
“The U.S. Secret Service has a no-fail mission, and I will take every necessary step to ensure the safety and security of our protectees—and that the U.S. Secret Service emerges from this stronger.”
A week after the shooting, many questions remain unanswered about how the shooter was able to position himself in direct line of sight of the rally stage and fire shots at the former president, who was under the agency’s protection.
The director is due to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, July 22, to testify on the agency’s failed security plan for the Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Ms. Cheatle declined calls from Republicans in Congress to step down, promising full transparency on the matter during both internal and external investigations. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressed the Biden administration’s full confidence in Ms. Cheatle after criticism arose over the handling of the event security.
Ms. Cheatle has also accepted full responsibility for all the security failings on the day, saying that the Secret Service under her watch was totally responsible for the “design and implementation and the execution” of the security plan at the rally.
Local law enforcement had a part in assisting with carrying out the agency-approved plan, she said, adding that the Secret Service “couldn’t do our job without them.”
In a previous interview, she said that according to the security plan, local law enforcement officials, with support from the Secret Service, were tasked with securing the American Glass Research (AGR) building from where the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had climbed on the roof to fire at the former president. Mr. Crooks killed one spectator, seriously injured two others, and struck former President Trump’s right ear.
Preliminary Investigation
It’s still unclear how Mr. Crooks was able to remain on the roof just 400 feet away from his target.The office of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released a preliminary report on July 21 on its investigations into the failed assassination so far and outlined a list of questions that remain unanswered by officials.
The senator’s office also reported that it was told radio communications had been siloed between local law enforcement, consisting of teams from Butler County, Beaver County, and Washington County, and the Secret Service, and that Butler County Emergency Services (Butler ESU) command was responsible for relaying information between local officers and the Secret Service.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) speaks during an interview with The Epoch Times at his office in the Hart Senate office building in Washington, on March 21, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
The report outlined that the Secret Service acknowledged a command report at 5:59 p.m., just before the former president began speaking at 6:02 p.m., that a local counter sniper officer stationed in the AGR building saw a suspicious man outside at 5:10 p.m. The man was then observed by the counter sniper officer “looking at news feeds on his phone and holding a range finder” at 5:32 p.m., according to information reported to Mr. Johnson’s office.
It was at this point, at 5:41 p.m., that the officer called into command to report the suspicious behavior, after which he sent a text report to command at 5:45 p.m. At 5:59 p.m., the Secret Service acknowledged the report and asked local officers for more information about the would-be shooter’s location. Former President Trump was fired upon at 6:11 p.m.
A local officer also reported confronting Mr. Crooks on the roof minutes before the suspect opened fire. Rallygoers in the area had reported seeing a shooter on the roof, prompting law enforcement to investigate. That officer attempted to pull himself up onto the roof but was unable to engage Mr. Crooks, who had pointed a rifle at the officer.
Former President Trump said he had not been made aware of any suspect sightings before he started speaking.
He told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Saturday that officials “could’ve said, ‘Let’s wait for 15, 20 minutes, 5 minutes.’ Nobody said ... I think that was a mistake. How did somebody get on that roof? And why wasn’t he reported? Because people saw he was on that roof.”
Risking Their Lives
The former president has not made direct comments about Ms. Cheatle but on multiple occasions has thanked Secret Service agents for their service. He praised the counter sniper and the agents around him for immediately acting to protect his life.In the past week, other members of the Trump family, including former First Lady Melania Trump and the former president’s son, Eric Trump, similarly praised Secret Service agents for their quick response and for risking their lives during the incident.
Eric Trump attends the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 15, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Mr. Eric Trump also defended the agency during an MSNBC interview at the Republican National Convention on July 16.
“The female [agent] that is in the picture, she’s been with me for a very long time,” Mr. Eric Trump told the outlet amid backlash over the agency’s DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] targets. “I’d do anything for her. She’s one of the greatest human beings you’ll ever meet. I’d do anything for her.”
The younger Trump thanked the agents for their courage and for “being heroes that day,” adding that they “could have easily gotten killed” during the shooting.
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Live Special Coverage: Oversight of the Secret Service and the Trump Assassination Attempt
Live Special Coverage: Trump Assassination Attempt Hearing (NTD)
Stefania Cox
Last Updated:
The director of the Secret Service has faced intense scrutiny as well as calls to step down since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. NTD will have live coverage of Kimberly Cheatle’s testimony before Congress today.
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) subpoenaed Ms. Cheatle last week, and promised the hearing would be extensive and detailed. Ms. Cheatle will be asked how her agency failed to stop the attempt on former President Trump’s life on July 13. It will be her first time before Congress since the assassination attempt. The Secret Service has pledged complete cooperation with Congress.
