During an extended hearing on security shortcomings related to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, Jamie Raskin, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, advised Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down.
“I don’t want to add to the director’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, but I will be joining the chairman in calling for the resignation of the director, just because I think that this relationship is irretrievable at this point,” Raskin (D-Md.) said, referring to Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.).
“I think that the director has lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent and tender moment in the history of the country,” Raskin continued.
Comer earlier in the hearing called for Cheatle’s resignation:
“We are concerned the Secret Service lacks the proper management to keep protectees safe from bad actors,” Comer said, adding that under Cheatle’s leadership, “we question whether anyone is safe.”
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At the conclusion of the hearing, Comer announced that he and Raskin would be drafting a letter to request Cheatle’s resignation as a means of holding her accountable for the events that transpired.
Despite facing intense bipartisan criticism during the hearing, Cheatle stood by her decision to remain in her position.
Lawmakers expressed mounting frustration over her inability to address various questions due to the ongoing investigations.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced his intention to file articles of impeachment against Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who has become the focal point of Congress’ outrage following the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
“In light of Kimberly Cheatle’s unacceptable handling of the Trump assassination attempt, her disastrous appearance before the House Oversight committee today, and her refusal to resign, we have no choice but to impeach,” Steube wrote on X.
Cheatle has stated her intention to remain in the position.
As the Secret Service director, she holds her role at the discretion of the president.
