Following the resignation of US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle over the agency’s negligence in protecting former President Trump, President Joe Biden thanked her for her “decades of public service” to the nation.
Biden also said he plans to appoint a new director for the USSS soon.
Praising Cheatle’s service, Biden highlighted how he selflessly dedicated and risked his life to protect the country throughout his career with the United States Secret Service.
“Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service. She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our country throughout her career with the United States Secret Service. We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our administration, and we are grateful for her service to our family,” a White House release said on Tuesday (local time), quoting President Joe Biden.
Cheatle’s resignation comes amid investigations by lawmakers and an internal government watchdog into how the agency handled Trump’s security and how a gunman nearly killed Pennsylvania’s Republican presidential nominee during a rally this month.
“As a leader, one of the most challenging jobs in public service requires honor, courage and unwavering integrity to take full responsibility for an organization,” Biden said in a statement.
He said, “The independent review is ongoing to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13, and I look forward to assessing its findings. We all know that what happened that day can never happen again. I wish Kim all the best as we move forward, and I plan to appoint a new director soon.”
One rally attendee was killed and several others were injured in the incident, although Trump’s head narrowly escaped.
Trump was on stage at an election rally in Pennsylvania when gunfire rang out and Secret Service agents rushed to the stage. A few hours after the shooting, Trump said that the bullet hit the top of his right ear.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified the attacker as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
There have also been calls for Cheatle’s resignation from members of Congress in both parties, and Republicans have been pushing for his impeachment since Trump was shot dead at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
According to CNN, lawmakers became particularly angry after a public hearing before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, where he refused to answer several of the committee’s questions.
Although Cheatle had said during his testimony before the House Oversight Committee that there were “significant” and “very major” issues with the rally’s security, he had previously refused to step down.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
