U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle gave a defiant statement in spite of her agency bungling former President Donald Trump’s security in Pennsylvania.
In her first public interview since the Saturday rally attack in Pennsylvania, Cheatle spoke with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas on Monday, amid criticism that the former president was almost assassinated on her watch.
Cheatle told Thomas that her initial response to the shooting was “shock and concern” for the former president.
Thomas asked her who was “most responsible” for allowing 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks to get close enough to the rally to attack Trump.
“What I would say is the Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president,” Cheatle responded.
Thomas continued to probe, questioning if she was the one who the blame should be placed on when Trump was shot, two of his supporters were wounded, and one was killed.
“The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary,” Cheatle stated. “It was unacceptable and it’s something that shouldn’t happen again.”
Though she did pass the “buck,” when she explained that the Secret Service was “responsible for the inner perimeter” of rally, and the building Crooks shot Trump from fell under the jurisdiction of the town’s local police.
“There was local police in that building — there was local police in the area that were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building,” she elaborated.
According to the New York Post, the building Crooks climbed on top of to shoot at the rally was being used as a “watch post” by local police snipers to scan the crowd for threats against Trump. Incredulously, they were located inside the building, rather than on top of it.
This is the latest in a string of security failures that include reports that Crooks was seen on top of the AGR International Inc. factory building 26 minutes prior to shooting, and was photographed by a local police officer.
Republican lawmakers want answers from Cheatle about the agency’s inability to keep Trump safe, with some calling for her resignation.
However, Cheatle affirmed her decision to remain in her role even though they’re calling of her head.
House Oversight Committee Republicans have launched an investigation into the assassination attempt, and have told Cheatle to preserve all documents and communications related to the rally.
In a statement on Monday, she said the agency will work with Congress on “any oversight action,” and “participate fully” in the independent review Biden ordered.
Cheatle also said that changes have been implemented to Trump’s security detail at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“The Secret Service is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy,” she noted. “It is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously, and I am committed to fulfilling that mission.”
The 53-year-old is the second woman to head the U.S. Secret Service. She was appointed to the role in August 2022 after serving as the senior director of global security at PepsiCo for three years.
Prior to that, she had a 27-year career with the Secret Service, starting during the Clinton administration.
The New York Post suggested that she secured the role due to her “close relationship” with First Lady Jill Biden.
Sources close to President Biden’s family reported that she was well-liked by the first lady and her senior aides, including Anthony Bernal, while she was waiting in the wings during the Obama years.
“Cheatle served on Dr. Biden’s second lady detail, and Anthony pushed for her,” a source told the outlet. “Anthony has no national security or law enforcement experience. He should have no influence over the selection of the USSS director.”
Another source confirmed, “I heard at the time she was being considered for director that Anthony had pushed her forward as an option.”
Cheatle is scheduled to brief Congress members on Tuesday about how gunman Crooks was able to get 130 yards away from the rally and fire shots despite her agency’s presence.
Cheatle is also supposed to appear at a House Oversight Committee public hearing next Monday.
Diversity over qualification. BS.
She’s a Didn’t Earn It hire. She fails the competency standards BY DEFINITION.
But she probably managed the security perimeter exactly as she was told.
Fire Her
In a few months President Trump will have the pleasure of using his famous words —-“Your fired!” Actually, he should use those words a whole lot as soon as he is back in office.
As in any security position, the buck stops here. No excuses, she failed to provide a plan to prevent a mess-up and only by the Grace of God was our soon to be president spared.
She needs to be replaced ASAP.
Semper Fi