Democrats joined Republicans on Monday in calling for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who acknowledged to Congress at a recent campaign rally that the agency failed to protect former President Donald Trump but failed to answer key questions about why that happened.
Her lack of answers and frequent referrals to the FBI frustrated both Republican and Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, and by the end of the hearing, several Democrats on the committee joined their Republican counterparts in calling for her resignation.
Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told Cheatle in his closing statement:
I join the Chairman in calling for the Secretary’s resignation because I believe this relationship is beyond repair at this point. I believe the Secretary has lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent and delicate time in our nation’s history. We need to get out of this situation quickly.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) was the first Democrat on the committee to call for her resignation.
“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.
He also questioned why Secret Service Director Stuart Knight resigned after the assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan.
“Do you know what Stuart Knight did when he was head of the Secret Service? Do you know what he did afterwards?” Khanna asked. “He continued to serve,” Cheatle replied.
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“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.”
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was just shamed by California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna for not knowing the history of the agency she runs.
“You know what Stuart Knight did. [Regan’s assassination attempt]???
“He continued his mission.”
“He resigned. He resigned.” pic.twitter.com/8RZ9iTYPeK
— Johnny Maga (@_johnnymaga) July 22, 2024
But Cheatle was adamant about stepping down, even saying he believed at the time he was the “best person” for the job.
Following the hearing, Sen. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the committee that oversees the Secret Service, and Sen. Raskin called for her resignation in a formal letter.
On July 13, 2024, the United States Secret Service under your command failed to protect former President Donald Trump from an assassination attempt that took the life of Cory Comperatore and seriously injured at least two others.
Today, you have failed to answer fundamental questions about that astonishing operational failure or to reassure the American people that the Secret Service has learned lessons and begun to correct systemic missteps and failures. In the midst of a presidential election, the Committee and the American people are earnestly calling for the systemic accountability and transparency that you have not provided. We call on you to resign as Director as a first step toward ensuring new leadership can swiftly address this crisis and rebuild the trust of a truly concerned Congress and the American people.
🚨BREAKING – Chairman James Comer and Lead Director Jamie Raskin are calling for the resignation of U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Director Cheatle:
On July 13, 2024, the United States Secret Service under your command failed to protect former President Donald Trump… pic.twitter.com/rTgMjmyGzr
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 22, 2024
President Biden, who announced on Sunday that he would not seek reelection, has been reported to be recuperating in Rehoboth Beach after a reinfection with COVID-19 and has not been seen by reporters in recent days.
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