Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., joined many Republicans in calling for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign during a congressional hearing on Monday.
“I don’t think this is a partisan thing. When there is an assassination attempt on a president, a former president or a candidate, he needs to resign,” Khanna said.
Khanna compared Cheatle’s refusal to resign to the resignation of Secret Service Director Stuart Knight after the assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan.
“Director Cheatle, do you agree that this is the Secret Service’s most serious security lapse since the assassination of President Reagan in 1981?” he asked. “Yes, I agree,” Director Cheatle replied.
“Do you know what Stuart Knight did when he was head of the Secret Service? Do you know what he did afterwards?” Khanna asked her.
“He continued his mission,” Cheatle replied.
“He resigned. He stepped down,” Khanna corrected. “That’s what Stuart Knight did. He was a Republican appointee. And he took responsibility. I think you need to reflect.”
He continued, “You can’t be the head of the Secret Service when there’s an assassination attempt going on against a presidential candidate. I say that to anybody who’s running for office. So my question for you is, what’s the difference between your position and what Stuart Knight did?”
Cheatle appears to be sticking to his stance against resigning.
“What I want to say is that I am committed to finding answers about what happened, and like other Secret Service agents, we will not shy away from our responsibilities. I will stay and I will be accountable to the agency, to this committee, to the former president and to the American people,” she responded.
Khanna pressed her: “Why not do what Stuart Knight did after the assassination attempt on President Reagan?”
“I think I’ve provided the answer,” Cheatle responded.
Khanna replied in disbelief:
Is there anything else I can say? I mean, do you really believe that with the way our country is divided and with all the questions being asked, that it’s in the best interest of the country for you to serve? I mean, I’m not saying that you can’t serve again or that you can’t do other good things. Do you really believe in your heart that it’s the right thing for America to do at this time for you to serve? I mean, do you think that there are people among Trump’s supporters who have confidence in you? What this country needs is an institution that transcends politics and has the confidence of independents, Democrats, Republicans, progressives, conservatives. Do you really believe that the majority of this country has confidence in you right now?
“I believe this country deserves answers, and I am committed to finding and providing those answers,” Cheatle responded.
Khanna reiterated his demand for her to resign.
“Chief Cheatle, I believe you should resign. I know there are colleagues on both sides of the aisle who think that too, so I would urge you to consider doing so.”
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