Following widespread calls for her resignation, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has stepped down after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. In her resignation letter, Cheatle took responsibility for the security lapse that occurred during the incident, stating that she made the difficult decision to step down due to the intense scrutiny. President Joe Biden thanked Cheatle for her service and announced that he would appoint her successor soon.
After the assassination attempt, Biden ordered an independent review to assess what happened, emphasizing the need to ensure such incidents never happen again. Trump, in response to Cheatle’s resignation, criticized the Biden/Harris administration for failing to protect him, stating it was his honor to defend democracy during the attack.
Cheatle faced harsh criticism from lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, during a recent hearing, where she was accused of incompetence and providing inadequate responses regarding the security failure. Members of the House Oversight Committee demanded her resignation, citing the need for new leadership to address the crisis and rebuild trust within the agency and the American people.
The details surrounding the assassination attempt, including the timeline leading up to the shooting, are still being investigated. Former President Trump was shot in the right ear during the incident, which also resulted in the death of a former fire official and injuries to two others. The Secret Service agents reportedly spotted the shooter on a rooftop before the shooting began, but there was a significant delay in preventing the attack. The investigation into the security failure is ongoing, and the conditions of the injured individuals have improved.
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