Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced intense questioning on Capitol Hill regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, acknowledging serious shortcomings within the agency.
During her testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Cheatle took full responsibility for the incident, describing it as “the most significant operational failure” the Secret Service has experienced in decades. She vowed to prevent a recurrence and announced forthcoming changes within the agency, even before the investigation concludes.
Amid calls for her resignation, Cheatle, who had previously blamed local law enforcement, expressed her support for both local and federal officials during her testimony.
However, she struggled to explain the absence of an agent on the rooftop during Trump’s rally.
Cheatle confirmed that the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had been flagged as suspicious prior to the shooting but was not classified as a threat. Crooks, who was carrying a rangefinder—a device typically used for hunting—was not questioned about it, as it is not prohibited at outdoor events.
In an earlier interview with ABC News correspondent Pierre Thomas, Cheatle described the attack as “unacceptable” and accepted responsibility, stating that the shooter should never have been able to access the rooftop.
A review of the incident, which resulted in Trump being shot in the ear and another person killed, is currently underway.
Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents after opening fire on the crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, with an AR-15-style rifle.
Despite Cheatle’s defense that the situation unfolded rapidly, reports indicate that Crooks was seen on the rooftop 20 minutes before the first shot was fired.
