By After the hearing, the leading Republican and Democrat on the committee, James Comer and Jamie Raskin sent a letter to Kim Cheatle, urging her to resign. Comer stated that Cheatle “instilled no confidence” in her ability to fulfill the Secret Service’s protective mission during the hearing. He added, “The Oversight Committee’s hearing resulted in Director Cheatle’s resignation, and there will be more accountability to come,” in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
In a post on his social media platform on Tuesday, Trump criticized the Biden/Harris administration for not protecting him adequately, claiming he “was forced to take a bullet for Democracy.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson deemed Cheatle’s resignation “overdue” and expressed relief that she stepped down. “Now we have to pick up the pieces and rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service,” Johnson told reporters.
Teresa Wilson, an ex-marine who attended the rally, expressed satisfaction with Cheatle’s resignation, telling the BBC, “I’m glad she succumbed to the pressure. I hope they still follow through with the independent investigation now that she’s resigned. We want answers.”
In a separate Capitol Hill hearing on Tuesday, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris highlighted several security errors leading up to the shooting. Paris explained that two officers stationed above the roof where the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was positioned left their post to investigate reports of a suspicious person. A police officer confronted Crooks on the roof just moments before he opened fire on Trump. Paris acknowledged “critical failures” at the rally but emphasized that the Secret Service is “ultimately responsible” for any security matters affecting their protectees and the public.
