WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) released the following statement calling for the resignation of U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after the near assassination of former President Trump: 

“While the American people are still searching for answers, we have enough to know that Director Cheatle should no longer hold her position. The Committee has worked in good faith to get answers since July 13th. In response, Director Cheatle refused to testify before our Committee, and DHS has been anything but transparent or forthcoming.

“First, Director Cheatle argued the Secret Service could not position counter-snipers in the location of the shooter because of the angle of the roof. This was an absurd, unacceptable, and obviously unfounded excuse. Director Cheatle also misled the Committee by claiming Trump’s security detail never requested more security. It has now been reported by both the Washington Post and the New York Times, however, that the Trump detail repeatedly made requests for more resources that were denied. Lastly, Director Cheatle placed blame at the feet of local law enforcement for the failures of that day––blatantly ignoring the fact that local officers indicated ahead of time they did not have the ability to secure the building that the shooter used to fire those fateful shots.
 
“For more than 120 years, the Secret Service has had a no-fail mission to protect our nation’s presidents. Secret Service agents put themselves in danger—sometimes at the cost of their very lives—to carry out this mission, and to protect our democratic form of government. These brave men and women deserve to be led by someone they can be confident in. Our nation deserves that. Director Cheatle has rightfully admitted the near assassination of a former president was a failure. She even said the buck stops with her. For the good of this country, Director Cheatle must resign immediately.”

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