US Secret Service Director Cheatle Resigns

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Facts

  • Director of the US Secret Service (USSS) Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday, writing to her staff that she 'fell short' in the agency's 'mission' to protect the nation's leaders, referring to the July 13 assassination attempt on former Pres. Donald Trump.1
  • Her resignation came a day after she testified before the House Oversight Committee's hearing on the assassination attempt.2
  • During the hearing, Cheatle said the attempted assassin's ability to gain access to the roof from which he shot at Trump was 'the most significant operational failure' of the USSS in 'decades.'2
  • While admitting that the USSS was aware of the suspicious behavior of the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, over an hour before the shooting, she declined to comment on how he was able to get onto the roof and fire multiple shots.3
  • The USSS, under Cheatle's leadership, reportedly also denied continual requests from Trump's team for extra protection over the two years leading up to the assassination attempt.4
  • USSS Deputy Director Ronald Rowe has been chosen to take Cheatle's place. This comes as a bipartisan House task force and the FBI are conducting their own respective investigations of the shooting, the latter of which Cheatle claimed had prevented her from going into details.5

Sources: 1New York Times, 2Verity, 3Wsj, 4Washington Post and 5CNN.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by New York Post. Kimberly Cheatle's refusal to resign immediately after the assassination attempt and failure to answer lawmakers' questions show she felt no duty to the agency or the American people. As the country wrapped its head around how the potential next president was shot, Cheatle has been let off the hook. Cheatle and her diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives should've never been in charge of the USSS.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Los Angeles Times. The reason Cheatle didn't immediately resign was actually due to her dedication to the USSS. From the Homeland Security secretary to the president, some of the highest-level government officials rightly hold Cheatle in the highest regard. Besides, the fact of the matter is that did the right thing in the end by stepping down — a pattern throughout her tenure as director.
  • Cynical narrative, as provided by Revolver News. While Kimberly Cheatle should certainly be questioned about her own failures, lawmakers and journalists have begun digging up other government officials and agencies who were potentially involved in covering up this unprecedented security failure. This also draws similarities to the mysterious pipe bombs in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6 — another bizarre case of government failure and secrecy.