Chief of Secret Service - Response to Trump assassination leaves questions open
After the attack on former President Donald Trump, Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheatle admitted a failure of the service but left many questions unanswered. In a hours-long hearing in the US Congress, she frequently referred to ongoing investigations. Retirement demands were rejected by Cheatle.
Still unclear was how it was possible that a roof with a direct view of Trump's stage at his campaign event remained unguarded, allowing the 20-year-old assailant to fire several shots from there. He was then shot dead by a Secret Service sharpshooter. One participant of the rally was killed and two others were injured. She apologized to Trump personally, said Cheatle.
183 meters with a clear view to Trump's stage
The building from which the shots were fired was approximately 183 meters from Trump's stage, as Cheatle stated. It was located outside the area protected by the Secret Service.
Instead, employees of local security agencies were stationed inside the flat corporate building, Cheatle added. She also mentioned that it should have been observed from above - how exactly, she left open. No Secret Service members were present at a water tower nearby, she conceded.
Previously, Cheatle had stated in an interview that the rooftop of the corporate building had been deemed too steep to position agents on. Legislators referred to this, pointing out that the roof behind Trump's stage, where Secret Service sharpshooters were seated, was even steeper.
Several indications of the shooter
The Secret Service Chief also admitted to there being "two to five" indications of the later shooter, who had reportedly been detected with a rangefinder.
She emphasized that the Service distinguished between suspicious persons and clear threats. A backpack or a rangefinder did not automatically make someone a threat. The assailant had only been identified as a threat a few seconds before the shots were fired, she said. Outside the security perimeter, as in many places in the USA, open carrying of weapons was allowed.
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting high-ranking politicians in the USA, including current and former Presidents. Currently, 36 people are under their protection - they are also active during visits by government officials.
"What are they hiding?"
Trump, who aims to return to the White House for the Republicans in November, was injured by a shooting at a campaign event in the state of Pennsylvania on July 13. He later stated that he had turned his head just before the first shot. The bullet grazed his right ear. Secret Service agents then threw themselves on him.
Some Republican legislators attempted to question Cheatle about conspiracy theories during the hearing in the House Oversight Committee on Monday. "What are they hiding?", asked Lisa McClain from Michigan. "Was there a conspiracy to kill President Trump?", wanted to know the right-wing Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. "Absolutely not", answered the Secret Service Chief.
At the same time, Cheatle left several questions unanswered, such as how the shooter got onto the roof - and how many cartridge casings were found there.
"You should have been guarding Doritos instead"
In the often divided committee along political lines, many Republicans and Democrats agreed that Cheatle should resign after the attack. They countered that, in their opinion, she was currently the best person to lead the service. A thorough investigation and consequences would follow. However, the investigations could last up to two months.
Members of both parties were extremely frustrated with Cheatle's answers. "They should be fired immediately and back to watching Doritos," Republican Representative Pat Fallon exclaimed. The reference to the chip brand was a jab at Cheatle's previous job as security chief at the beverage and snack conglomerate PepsiCo. She had switched careers from the Secret Service after 27 years before being appointed as the head of the agency in September 2022. Republican Anna Paulina Luna accused Cheatle of not telling the truth under oath.
"Worst operational failure in decades"
Cheatle described the attack as the worst operational failure of the Secret Service in decades. The chairman of the Oversight Committee in the House of Representatives, Republican James Comer, stated that the attack could have been prevented. On the other hand, his democratic vice Jamie Raskin pointed out that gun attacks were all too common in America. We had thought that at least those protected by the Secret Service would be safe from gun violence, but that was the reality for ordinary Americans.
Live stream of the hearing.
- During the hearing in the U.S. Congress, Republican Representative Pat Fallon criticized Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheatle, stating, "They should be fired immediately and back to watching Doritos."
- The attack on former President Donald Trump at his campaign event in Pennsylvania was the worst operational failure of the Secret Service in decades, according to Cheatle.
- In her statement, Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged that there were "two to five" indications of the later shooter, who had reportedly been detected with a rangefinder.
- Following the attack on President Trump, some Republican legislators, including Lisa McClain from Michigan and Marjorie Taylor Greene, raised conspiracy theories and questioned Cheatle's actions, asking, "What are they hiding?" and "Was there a conspiracy to kill President Trump?"
- The building from which the shots were fired was approximately 183 meters from Trump's stage, outside the area protected by the Secret Service, as revealed by Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheatle.
