President Joe Biden praised former Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned after coming under fierce criticism from lawmakers from both parties at a confirmation hearing the previous day for failing to thwart an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Biden said in a statement Tuesday.
“Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service. She has dedicated herself to risking her life to protect our country throughout her career with the U.S. Secret Service. We are especially grateful for her answer to the call to lead the Secret Service under this Administration and for all she has done for her family.”
He added: “As a leader, it takes honor, courage and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization that has one of the most difficult jobs in public service.”
He said an independent investigation into the assassination attempt he led was “ongoing” and that he looked forward to assessing its conclusions.
“We all know that what happened that day can never happen again. I wish Kim the best of luck as we move forward. We expect to appoint a new director in the near future,” he wrote.
Biden, who is recovering from coronavirus in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, has not been seen in public for several days. He is due to return to the White House on Tuesday afternoon.
During Monday’s hearing, Cheatle steadfastly resisted calls to resign, even saying at the time that he believed he was the “best person” for the job and that he wanted to stay on to provide answers and continuity.
But Cheatle’s failure to answer some key questions and his frequent deferrals to the FBI, which is investigating the case, angered lawmakers from both parties. He resigned on Tuesday.
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