House Democrat calls for Secret Service director to resign after Trump rally shooting
Pennsylvania congressman says ‘evidence coming to light has shown unacceptable operational failures’
Edward Helmore
The Pennsylvania congressman Brendan Boyle has become the first Democrat to call for the director of the US Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, to resign as more security lapses that may have contributed to the near-assassination of Donald Trump on 13 July continue coming to light.
In a statement issued after the Washington Post reported on Saturday that the presidential protection agency had for two years denied Trump requests for additional security, Boyle said he had “no confidence” in the Secret Service leadership.
“I am calling on Director Cheatle to resign immediately following last weekend’s shooting of a presidential candidate in western Pennsylvania,” Boyle said in a statement posted to X Saturday.
“The evidence coming to light has shown unacceptable operational failures,” he added. “I have no confidence in the leadership of the United States Secret Service if Director Cheatle chooses to remain in her position.”
Senior Republicans, including the House speaker, Mike Johnson, and the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, have called for new leadership. McConnell said: “The nation deserves answers and accountability. New leadership at the Secret Service would be an important step in that direction.”
On Sunday, Johnson addressed Republican complaints that Trump was not adequately protected because Cheatle had prioritized diversity recruiting initiatives in the agency – a position not shared by the former president’s family or his campaign for a second White House term.
“No, ma’am – that is not your top priority,” Johnson told CNN. “We want the most capable officers regardless of gender. Their job is protection, not diversity. That was a frustrating thing for people to see in the light of the lapses that took place apparently last weekend.
“People just don’t understand why basic tasks were not taken. Director Cheatle said people were not on that roof because of the slant, and she was worried about the health and safety of her agents. That makes no sense to us. She has a lot to answer for.”
www.theguardian.com
Pennsylvania congressman says ‘evidence coming to light has shown unacceptable operational failures’
Edward Helmore
The Pennsylvania congressman Brendan Boyle has become the first Democrat to call for the director of the US Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, to resign as more security lapses that may have contributed to the near-assassination of Donald Trump on 13 July continue coming to light.
In a statement issued after the Washington Post reported on Saturday that the presidential protection agency had for two years denied Trump requests for additional security, Boyle said he had “no confidence” in the Secret Service leadership.
“I am calling on Director Cheatle to resign immediately following last weekend’s shooting of a presidential candidate in western Pennsylvania,” Boyle said in a statement posted to X Saturday.
“The evidence coming to light has shown unacceptable operational failures,” he added. “I have no confidence in the leadership of the United States Secret Service if Director Cheatle chooses to remain in her position.”
Senior Republicans, including the House speaker, Mike Johnson, and the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, have called for new leadership. McConnell said: “The nation deserves answers and accountability. New leadership at the Secret Service would be an important step in that direction.”
On Sunday, Johnson addressed Republican complaints that Trump was not adequately protected because Cheatle had prioritized diversity recruiting initiatives in the agency – a position not shared by the former president’s family or his campaign for a second White House term.
“No, ma’am – that is not your top priority,” Johnson told CNN. “We want the most capable officers regardless of gender. Their job is protection, not diversity. That was a frustrating thing for people to see in the light of the lapses that took place apparently last weekend.
“People just don’t understand why basic tasks were not taken. Director Cheatle said people were not on that roof because of the slant, and she was worried about the health and safety of her agents. That makes no sense to us. She has a lot to answer for.”
House Democrat calls for Secret Service director to resign after Trump rally shooting
Pennsylvania congressman says ‘evidence coming to light has shown unacceptable operational failures’
www.theguardian.com
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