The director of the Secret Service resigned on Tuesday following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, which sparked widespread criticism of the agency’s failure to protect current and former presidents.
Kimberly Cheatle, who had led the Secret Service since August 2022, faced increasing demands for her resignation and multiple investigations into how a gunman managed to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee during an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” Cheatle said in an email to staff obtained by The Associated Press. “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’s departure is unlikely to end the scrutiny of the long-troubled agency following the failures of July 13. Her resignation comes at a critical time, ahead of the Democratic National Convention and a busy presidential campaign season. Lawmakers from both parties have promised further investigations. Additionally, an inspector general probe and an independent, bipartisan effort launched at President Joe Biden’s request will keep the agency under intense examination.
Cheatle’s resignation came a day after she appeared before a congressional committee, where she faced hours of bipartisan criticism for the security failures. She described the attempt on Trump’s life as the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades but frustrated lawmakers by not answering specific questions about the investigation.
