(Washington) The director of the Secret Service, under fire since the assassination attempt against Donald Trump on July 13, resigned Tuesday, the day after a tense congressional hearing during which she acknowledged failure.
Kimberly Cheatle, the head of this elite service responsible for protecting high-ranking American figures, has been the subject of numerous calls to resign from both Republican and Democratic elected officials since the shooting that slightly injured the right-wing candidate.
House Republican leader Mike Johnson immediately welcomed his resignation.
PHOTO J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
House Republican Leader Mike Johnson
“This is long overdue, she should have done this at least a week ago,” he told reporters. “I am pleased to see that she has heard the calls from Republicans and Democrats,” he added.
“We must now pick up the pieces, rebuilding the American people’s trust in the Secret Service,” he concluded.
In a statement, Democratic President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude to Mme Cheatle “for his decades of service.”
“Throughout her career with the Secret Service, she devoted herself selflessly and risked her life to protect our nation,” he added.
The president did, however, make a point of mentioning the “independent” investigation that is to review the events of July 13 and determine how a shooter was able to end up so close to Donald Trump.
“I look forward to evaluating its findings,” Biden said, adding that he expected to appoint a new director “soon.” “We all know that what happened that day must never happen again.”
“In the name of democracy”
During a congressional hearing on Monday, Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged failings.
“The solemn mission of the Secret Service is to protect our nation’s leaders […]”On July 13, we failed,” she said.
“As director, I take full responsibility for any security breaches,” she added, calling the events of July 13 “the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades.”
But she dismissed calls for her resignation: “I think I’m the best person to lead the Secret Service right now,” she said.
She also refused to answer many specific questions from MPs about the attack, arguing that several investigations were underway.
Donald Trump, 78, was shot in the ear in the shooting. Photos of him with blood running down his face and his fist raised went viral. One bystander was killed and two others were seriously injured.
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was shot dead by the Secret Service.
The Biden administration “failed to protect me properly, and I was forced to take a bullet in the name of democracy,” Donald Trump responded Tuesday on his Truth Social platform.