U.S. Secret Service Chief Steps Down Amid Scandal Over Trump Security Lapses

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday amidst widespread outrage over the agency’s failure to prevent an assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

Cheatle’s resignation came after a tense congressional hearing where both Democrats and Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with her explanations about how a gunman managed to get within shooting range of Trump. Cheatle revealed that the Secret Service had received multiple alerts regarding a suspicious individual before the incident.

In an email obtained by The Associated Press, Cheatle accepted “full responsibility for the security lapse” and informed her staff accordingly.

U.S. Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald L. Rowe will take over as acting Director of the Secret Service, as announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a statement. “I appreciate his willingness to lead the Secret Service at this incredibly challenging moment,” Mayorkas said, highlighting the necessity for the agency to unravel the events of July 13 and cooperate with ongoing investigations and Congressional oversight.

The Secret Service declined to comment, deferring to DHS for further statements. Cheatle stated during a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing that she is committed to finding answers and preventing such an event from happening again.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., affirmed that despite Cheatle’s resignation, he intends to establish a bipartisan task force to investigate the security lapses that led to the attempted assassination, in which Trump sustained an injury to his right ear. “Her resignation is overdue,” Johnson said. He added that there might be other individuals responsible beyond Cheatle.

Former President Trump responded on his social media platform, Truth Social, blaming the Biden administration for the security failure and expressed his willingness to “take a bullet for Democracy.”

President Joe Biden expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s service and announced plans to appoint a new director soon. He praised her for taking full responsibility and emphasized the importance of an independent review by DHS to understand the events of July 13. “We all know what happened that day can never happen again,” Biden stated.

Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., introduced bipartisan legislation requiring future Secret Service directors to be Senate-confirmed and serve a single 10-year term. Grassley highlighted the legislation’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability.

Mayorkas also commended Cheatle’s 29 years of dedicated service, mentioning her leadership qualities and the respect she garnered within the agency and the Department of Homeland Security.