Kimberly Cheatle, the Director of the US Secret Service, has resigned following intense scrutiny over security lapses during a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN on Tuesday.
Cheatle’s decision to step down comes amidst ongoing investigations by lawmakers and government watchdogs into the agency’s handling of the incident, in which a gunman nearly succeeded in assassinating Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month.
In her resignation letter, Cheatle described the decision as “difficult” but necessary, acknowledging that the agency “fell short” of its mission to protect national leaders during the July 13 shooting.
President Joe Biden expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s decades of service and announced plans to appoint a new director shortly.
Calls for Cheatle’s resignation had intensified in Congress with bipartisan support and efforts by Republican lawmakers to pursue impeachment proceedings. During her recent appearance before the House Oversight Committee, Cheatle faced criticism for evading questions about the security failures at the rally.
House Speaker Mike Johnson described Cheatle’s resignation as “overdue,” emphasizing the need to rebuild public trust in the Secret Service’s ability to safeguard presidents and other officials.
Cheatle, appointed by President Biden in 2022, had defended her leadership amid mounting criticism, insisting that she was best suited to lead the agency despite admitting “colossal” security issues at the rally site.
The Secret Service has been under scrutiny for failing to secure the rally area and for mishandling prior warnings about the gunman’s suspicious activities.
Cheatle, who had a distinguished 27-year career in the Secret Service before joining PepsiCo, had pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations into the agency’s security protocols and response to the assassination attempt.
The fallout from the incident has underscored broader concerns about presidential security and the Secret Service’s operational readiness.
