Secret Service chief to Congress: ‘We failed’

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before Congress for the first time since the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, admitting that the agency failed in its duty to protect the nation’s leaders. Cheatle, summoned by the House Oversight Committee, took full responsibility for the security lapse and pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations by the FBI and congressional oversight.

Cheatle’s testimony follows reports that the Secret Service had denied multiple requests from Trump’s team for additional security resources before the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. These requests included magnetometers and counter-sniper teams for various events over the past two years. Despite these denials, the Secret Service maintained it had made necessary adjustments to ensure Trump’s safety.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer criticized Cheatle and called for her resignation, labeling the incident a “historic failure” and accusing the agency of incompetence. The hearing is part of a broader set of investigations, including an independent review ordered by President Biden and additional congressional probes. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced a 45-day review by a panel of experts to determine what went wrong and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Source: NPR