Rep. Brendan Boyle (Democrat, Pennsylvania) has called for the resignation of US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Trump. Boyle is the first member of Congress to do so.
“In light of the shooting of a presidential candidate in western Pennsylvania last weekend, I call on Secretary Cheatle to resign immediately,” Boyle said. said in a posted statement. “The evidence that has emerged indicates unacceptable operational failures, and I have no confidence in the leadership of the U.S. Secret Service if Director Cheatle remains in his position,” the letter to X. was sent on Saturday.
Trump was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last weekend and has been wearing a bandage over his ear since the shooting.
The Secret Service has faced intense scrutiny following the shooting, with many questioning how the gunman was able to get onto the rooftop in clear view of President Trump.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, called on Cheatle to resign on Wednesday, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also called the same day for the appointment of new leadership for the agency.
“Last week’s near assassination attempt on former President Trump was a grave attack on American democracy,” McConnell said in a post on X. “The public deserves accountability and accountability, and new leadership at the Secret Service would be an important step in that direction.”
In an interview earlier this week, Cheatle said he had no plans to resign.
“I plan on staying,” she said.
Hill contacted the Secret Service.
