The director of the Secret Service is stepping down from her job, according to an email she sent to staff.
This follows the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that unleashed intensifying outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission.
Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, had been facing growing calls to resign and several investigations into how the shooter was able to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she said in the email to staff Tuesday. “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’s resignation comes a day after appeared before a congressional committee and was berated by hours by both Democrats and Republicans for the security failures. She called the attempt on Trump’s life the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades and said she takes fully responsibility for the security lapses, but angered lawmakers by failing to answer specific questions about the investigation.
The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to get within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where the former president was speaking when he opened fire. That’s despite a threat on Trump’s life from Iran leading to additional security for the former president in the days before the July 13 rally.
Latest Stories
-
Labourer jailed 5 years for inflicting cutlass wounds on businessman
6 seconds -
Parliament urged to fast-track passage of Road Traffic Amendment Bill
37 seconds -
Mr Daniel Kofi Asante aka Electrician
1 min -
Minerals Commission, Solidaridad unveils forum to tackle child labour in mining sector
6 mins -
Election 2024: Engagement with security services productive – NDC
8 mins -
‘Let’s work together to improve sanitation, promote health outcome’ – Sector Minister urges
9 mins -
Ellembelle MP cuts sod for six-unit classroom block at Nkroful Agric SHS
12 mins -
‘I’ll beat the hell out of you if you misbehave on December 7’ – Achiase Commanding Officer
15 mins -
AFPNC leads the charge on World Prematurity Day 2024
20 mins -
Court remands unemployed man over theft of ECG property
27 mins -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
29 mins -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
29 mins -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
39 mins -
Project commissioning not a ploy to attract votes – Oppong Nkrumah
40 mins -
CBG records GH¢1bn revenue in Q3
43 mins