Washington, D.C. — The director of the United States Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned on Tuesday in the wake of an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. The incident has sparked widespread outrage over the agency’s failure to protect both current and former presidents.
Cheatle, who had led the Secret Service since August 2022, faced increasing calls to step down and multiple investigations into how a gunman managed to get close to Trump during an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The former president, who is the Republican presidential nominee, was shot in the ear at the July 13 event.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” Cheatle said in an email to staff obtained by The Associated Press. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”
Despite Cheatle’s resignation, scrutiny of the agency is expected to continue, particularly given its troubled history and the recent security failures. This development comes at a crucial time, with the Democratic National Convention and a busy presidential campaign season on the horizon. Lawmakers from both parties have pledged further investigations into the agency’s handling of the incident.
An inspector general probe is already underway, alongside an independent and bipartisan review initiated at President Joe Biden’s request. These efforts aim to uncover the reasons behind the security breach and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Cheatle’s resignation and the ensuing investigations keep the Secret Service in the spotlight, emphasizing the critical need for effective security measures during a politically charged campaign season.
