Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna Calls On Secret Service Director To Step Down

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) called on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down during a Monday hearing following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

The Democratic Congressman from California’s 17th Congressional district, which encompasses San Jose, pointed out during Cheatle’s testimony that she had lost the trust of a large swath of the American public after Trump was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

“I don’t think this is partisan. If you have an assassination attempt on a president, a former president, or a candidate, you need to resign,” Khanna charged.

“Would you agree that this is the most serious security lapse since President Reagan was shot in 1981,” Khanna asked Cheatle, who responded, “Yes sir, I would.”

“Do you know what Stuart Knight did?” Khanna asked, referencing the Director of the Secret Service at the time of the attempted assassination of Reagan. Cheatle responded, “he remained on duty,” before being corrected by Khanna, who fired back, “he resigned.”

Cheatle stated multiple times, however, that she would maintain her post as the Director of the Secret Service, drawing ire from Khanna. “I will remain on, and be responsible to the agency, to this committee, to the former president, and the American public,” she said.

“Do you really believe, given how divided the country is, that your service in this role is the best for the nation?” Khanna asked. “We’ve got to have agencies in this country that transcend politics, that have the confidence of Democrats, Republicans.”

“I believe, Director Cheatle, that you should resign,” Khanna added.

Khanna is not the only Democrat, however, who has called for Cheatle’s resignation. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) verbally sparred with Cheatle, who gave a noncommittal response when Moskowitz asked whether or not she was prepared to fire Secret Service personnel.

“The reason why your name is going to be the person who’s held accountable, and the reason why members of this committee are calling for resignation — and I join in that — or for the president to fire you, is because you’re saying there’s going to be accountability, but you can’t commit that people are going to get fired,” Moskowitz stated.