Staff Reports
A flock of GOP senators descended upon Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, effectively demanding her immediate resignation or forthright answers regarding a catastrophic security lapse that led to an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee highlighted the frustration felt by several GOP senators through a video she shared on social media, illustrating Cheatle’s abysmal handling of the situation and her refusal to provide any meaningful explanations. Senators John Barrasso, James Lankford, and Kevin Cramer stood alongside Blackburn, reinforcing the collective dismay.
GOP senators confront Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at RNC, demanding she resign or answer their questionshttps://t.co/75pdRfsnMo pic.twitter.com/taFY7XjT9Y
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 18, 2024
The quartet’s pointed questioning followed several virtual briefings earlier that day where Cheatle’s incompetence was on full display. Barrasso and Blackburn, both vocal in their calls for Cheatle’s resignation, cited dissatisfaction after many senators were cut off mid-inquiry, only to be told there were no further questions. Cheatle’s weak excuse that the Secret Service was managing the call and questions fell on deaf ears.
The Wyoming senator ramped up the pressure on Cheatle, issuing a blunt ultimatum: resign immediately or start providing solid answers about the lapse that nearly cost Trump his life in Pennsylvania. Barrasso criticized Cheatle’s decision to allow Trump on stage despite prior alerts about a potential threat.
Cheatle’s graceless exit from the venue, escorted by her security detail, was a dramatic scene punctuated by the senators following her and attempting to solicit responses. Her reluctance to engage and evasively disappearing into a private room spoke volumes about her regard—or lack thereof—for accountability.
With one rally attendee dead and two critically injured due to a gunman that Trump never got a heads-up about, the focus on Cheatle’s position has never been sharper. The senators’ demands for answers and insistence on her taking responsibility underscore the gravity of the situation and the leadership breakdown at the highest levels of the Secret Service. It seems Cheatle prefers dodging questions over facing the music, but the GOP senators are determined not to let this slide.
