US Secret Service Director Resigns Amid Trump Shooting Failure

News Today: US Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle Resigns Over Trump Shooting Failures

US Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle has resigned following security failures during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Cheatle faced bipartisan pressure to step down after a contentious congressional hearing on the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally shooting. “As your director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” Cheatle stated in her resignation letter.

Cheatle had been grilled by lawmakers about the July 13 incident where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear, leaving one dead and two wounded. Witnesses reported seeing a man with a rifle before shots were fired. The suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a counter-sniper. Cheatle provided no new details on how Crooks accessed the rooftop or why Trump was allowed to speak.

President Joe Biden, in a statement, expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s service and stressed the importance of the ongoing independent review. He announced Ronald Rowe as acting director until a new leader is appointed. Rowe, a 24-year Secret Service veteran, was previously deputy director.

Cheatle’s tenure included evacuating Vice President Dick Cheney during the 9/11 attacks and leading Biden’s protective detail as vice president. Despite her long service, the Butler rally shooting was deemed “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.”

House Oversight Committee leaders James Comer and Jamie Raskin urged Cheatle to resign, citing a lack of confidence in her leadership. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and rally attendees echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for accountability and a thorough investigation.

Trump criticized the Biden administration’s protection efforts on social media, claiming, “I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy.” Teresa Wilson, a rally attendee, expressed relief at Cheatle’s resignation and called for continued investigation.