Secret Service Director Resigns Amid Uproar Over Trump Assassination Attempt

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday as she faced backlash over the security failure underlying the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump earlier this month.

The decision came after Cheatle appeared for a hearing before the House Oversight Committee and testified that the Secret Service “failed” its mission to protect leaders under its charge. Both Democrats and Republicans had called on Cheatle to step down.

“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that, I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director,” Cheatle said in an email to the Secret Service workforce obtained by ABC News.

Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle has resigned. @ABC’s @AaronKatersky and @LukeLBarr have obtained the email she sent out to the workforce. pic.twitter.com/ZPDhaDDBJg

— Gio Benitez (@GioBenitez) July 23, 2024

Questions have been raised about how a shooter, identified as a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to get onto a nearby rooftop and begin shooting with an AR-style rifle at the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania. A Secret Service sniper shot and killed the gunman while other personnel rushed to protect Trump and escort him off the stage, but not before a bullet ripped through the former president’s ear. One rally-goer was killed and two others were injured.

Cheatle, whose agency faced a flurry of investigations over the incident, said the “scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operation tempo increases. As your Director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse.”

After the hearing on Monday, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top member of the panel, released a letter saying Cheatle “failed” to provide answers to “basic questions” and reassure the public of the Secret Service’s ability to learn from its mistakes. They also called on Cheatle to resign.

Others, including Trump’s son Eric and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), had called for Cheatle to step down or be fired. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a privileged motion on Monday evening that would have forced the House to vote on a resolution to impeach Cheatle within 48 hours.

Cheatle said in her letter the Trump rally shooting “does not define us. We remain an organization based on integrity and staffed by individuals of exceptional decision and talent. As I’ve stated, the Secret Service will move forward with our investigator and protective mission in a steadfast manner.” She added, “We do not retreat from challenge. 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.”

President Joe Biden, appointed Cheatle to her position in 2022, released a statement lauding the Secret Service director after she announced her decision to resign.

“Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service. She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service,” Biden said. “We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our Administration and we are grateful for her service to our family.”

The president continued, “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. The independent review to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to assessing its conclusions. We all know what happened that day can never happen again. As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best, and I will plan to appoint a new Director soon.”

In a post to X, Johnson said it was “good” that Cheatle resigned and declared that the bipartisan task force he put together with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) would “quickly and thoroughly investigate the assassination attempt on President Trump and hold those responsible accountable.”