A Secret Service briefing to senators on Wednesday revealed that the agency identified Matthew Thomas Crooks as a “threat” 10 minutes before former President Donald Trump took to the podium and nearly was assassinated.
The revelations have renewed calls for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who doubled down on her opposition to resignation in a statement after the briefing, saying:
“During any significant incident, continuity of operations is paramount, and Director of the U.S. Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle has no intention of resigning. She has deep respect for members of Congress and is committed to leading the Secret Service transparently through our internal investigations and to strengthening the agency through the lessons learned from these important internal and external investigations.”
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) revealed some of the details in a post following a call briefing of all 100 senators, including Sen. Cheatle and FBI Director Christopher Wray. He posted on X:
This was a total evasion briefing. He was identified as a suspicious person an hour before the shooting. He had a rangefinder and a backpack. The Secret Service lost track of him.
Nobody is taking responsibility. Nobody is being held accountable.
Someone died. The president was nearly killed. The head of the Secret Service needs to resign.
Someone died. The president was nearly killed. The head of the Secret Service needs to resign. pic.twitter.com/Bed6NnuS00
— Senator John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) July 17, 2024
Fox News reporter Aisha Hasney reported that Barrasso said the Secret Service had identified Crooks, 20, as a “suspicious individual” “more than an hour” before the shooting, based on the presence of a rangefinder and a backpack.
She also reported that the Secret Service identified Crooks as a “threat” 10 minutes before Trump was due to take the stage, but still allowed him to go on stage.
🚨BREAKING: Secret Service identified shooter an hour before rally, confirmed threat minutes before, but still allowed Trump to take to the stage
Kimberly Cheatle needs to resign immediately. pic.twitter.com/8hA8wpCzLH
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 17, 2024
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) confirmed parts of that explanation in a post on X after the briefing.
“I just finished a briefing with the Secret Service and the FBI. I am appalled to learn that the Secret Service was aware of the threat before President Trump took the stage. I have zero confidence in Director Cheatle’s leadership and believe it is in our Nation’s best interest for her to resign.”
I just finished a briefing with the Secret Service and the FBI, and I am appalled to learn that the Secret Service was aware of the threat before President Trump took the stage.
I have no confidence in Director Cheatle’s leadership and believe it is in our best interest…
— Senator Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) July 17, 2024
According to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Cheatle and Wray received “only a handful” of questions from senators, and zero from conservatives. Cruz also called for her resignation, posting:
After hearing the briefing from the Director of the Secret Service, I am even more convinced that she should resign, and if she doesn’t, Joe Biden should fire her. This is a catastrophic failure, and we’re not getting the answers we need.
After being briefed by the Director of the Secret Service, I am even more convinced that she should resign, and if she doesn’t, Joe Biden should fire her.
This has been a catastrophic failure and we are not getting the answers we need. pic.twitter.com/xE9nqS9yJo
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 18, 2024
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also called for Cheatle’s resignation.
“Last week’s near assassination attempt on former President Trump was a grave attack on American democracy. The public must be held accountable and accountable. New leadership at the Secret Service will be an important step in that direction,” he said in a statement on X after the briefing.
“Last week’s near assassination of former President Trump was a grave attack on American democracy. The public deserves accountability and responsibility. New leadership for the Secret Service would be an important step in that direction.”
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) July 17, 2024
Blackburn, who confronted Cheatle at the Republican National Convention after the report, again called for Cheatle’s resignation on Thursday.
This situation was completely avoidable. There are no excuses for the tragedy that occurred Saturday night. The Secret Service must be held accountable for this cover-up. Director Cheatle should resign.
This situation was entirely avoidable and there are no excuses for the tragedy that occurred on Saturday evening.
The Secret Service must be held accountable for this cover-up.
Secretary Cheatle must resign. https://t.co/FBptPJBXZw
— Senator Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) July 18, 2024
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