US Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle formally resigns

New Delhi: In a significant turn of events, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has stepped down amidst escalating criticism over a security lapse that led to former President Donald Trump being wounded during a campaign rally. Cheatle, who had been in the role since August 2022, faced intense scrutiny and calls for resignation following the incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

Security failure at Trump's rally

The Secret Service is embroiled in a crisis after a gunman managed to fire shots at Trump from a rooftop overlooking the rally. The assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was ultimately killed by a Secret Service sniper, but not before grazing Trump’s right ear and fatally wounding a rally attendee. The agency’s failure to secure the rooftop has drawn bipartisan condemnation and prompted multiple investigations.

Cheatle faces Congressional grilling

Cheatle appeared before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee on Monday, where she faced bipartisan frustration and tough questions about the security protocols for the rally. Lawmakers from both parties criticized her inability to provide satisfactory answers and demanded her resignation.

Cheatle takes responsibility

In her testimony, Cheatle accepted responsibility for the breach, labeling it the largest failure since the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981. She acknowledged that the rooftop, which was outside the Secret Service’s declared security perimeter, should have been secured, a decision now under heavy criticism.

Secret Service under scrutiny by Homeland Security

The Secret Service’s performance is under investigation by several congressional committees and the Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog. President Joe Biden, who has called for an independent review, criticized the agency's security planning. This incident marks another scandal for the Secret Service, which has faced numerous controversies in recent years.

Who is Kimberly Cheatle?

Kimberly Cheatle was appointed as the Secret Service director in 2022 by President Biden, following her role in a top security position at PepsiCo. She has a long history with the agency, serving 27 years before taking on the directorship. Cheatle's tenure began amid efforts to restore the agency’s reputation after a series of scandals, including an incident in 2012 where agents were caught with prostitutes in Colombia and allegations of erasing text messages around the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.