The Director of the United States Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, has resigned in the wake of the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
The attempt, which occurred on July 13 at a rally in Pennsylvania, resulted in Trump being injured and raised serious concerns about the agency’s security protocols.
Cheatle’s resignation comes after she faced intense scrutiny from US lawmakers during a congressional committee hearing on Monday. In an email to staff, Cheatle took full responsibility for the security lapse and expressed her decision to step down with a “heavy heart.”
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse.
“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director,” Cheatle said in the email.
During the congressional hearing, Cheatle acknowledged the agency’s failure, calling the incident “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.”
She assured lawmakers that the agency would take steps to prevent such an incident from happening again.
“The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 is the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.
“There clearly was a mistake and we will make every effort to make sure that this never happens again,” Cheatle told lawmakers.
Cheatle’s departure marks a significant development in the aftermath of the assassination attempt, as the agency seeks to address concerns over security protocols and prevent future lapses.
