Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday called for the appointment of new leadership for the U.S. Secret Service in the wake of the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump.
“Last week’s near assassination of former President Trump was a grave attack on American democracy,” McConnell said. stated in the post “The public deserves accountability and answers, and new leadership at the Secret Service will be an important step in that direction,” he said on social platform X.
McConnell’s comments came after a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend, grazing the former president’s ear. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and the agency have come under scrutiny for their response, with some questioning how a gunman was able to get onto a rooftop in clear view of Trump.
Mr McConnell’s fellow Republican leader, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, called on Mr Cheatle to resign on Wednesday and said he would create a task force to consolidate an investigation focused on security failures at Saturday’s rally.
“That’s not acceptable,” Johnson said.
Following the shooting, the US Secret Service has received support from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who said he has “100 percent” confidence in the agency.
Hill contacted the Secret Service.
