Secret Service Director Answers For Letting America Down, which almost resulted in the assassination Of Donald Trump, during his July 13 rally. Full Video Below
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle took responsibility Monday for security failures that led to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump but sidestepped several major questions in testimony before a visibly frustrated House oversight committee.
NBC reports
Cheatle, who was subpoenaed to testify, was skewered by committee members from both parties, who told her she should resign over her “incompetence,” her “lame excuses,” and her lack of answers to what they called basic questions.
Cheatle did not provide clear answers when committee members asked about whether the Secret Service had secured the building that the gunman fired from and how he gained access to the roof.
“I’m not going to get into specifics of the day,” she said, citing an ongoing investigation. “There was a plan in place to provide overwatch, and we are still looking into responsibilities.”
She declined to give specific figures when other committee members asked how many agents were assigned to protect Trump that day, as well as the number of times the Secret Service has denied Trump’s request for additional security assets.
Cheatle told the committee that the gunman had been “identified as suspicious” before Trump took the stage. She said Trump was still allowed to continue to the podium, where he was shot, because the gunman had not yet been identified as a “threat.”
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said that the gunman should have been seen as a “threat” and that the rally should have been paused before Trump began speaking, when spectators started screaming that there was an armed man on the roof.
Two hours into the hearing, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., was told to exhibit decorum when she slammed Cheatle for dodging questions and being “completely dishonest” about her cooperation with the committee.
“You’re full of s— today!” she said. “We have asked you repeatedly to answer our questions.”
