The Director of the US Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, has stepped down after calls for her resignation began to grow following the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, reports say.
Cheatle’s resignation comes a day after she faced questions from angry lawmakers who dubbed the Secret Service’s failure to protect Trump as incompetent.
“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 wrote in her letter obtained by NBC news.
In the announcement, which is yet to be made public, the director said the agency “fell short” of its mission to “to protect our nation’s leaders”.
“As I’ve stated, the Secret Service will move forward with our investigatory and protective mission in a steadfast manner,” Cheatle said.
“We do not retreat from challenge. However, I do not want my calls for resignation to be a distraction from the great work each and every one of you do towards our vital mission.”
President Joe Biden said Cheatle’s decision took honour, courage, and incredible integrity.
“She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service,” Biden said.
“We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our administration, and we are grateful for her service to our family.”
The president said he will appoint a new director soon.
THE TRUMP SHOOTING
Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13 when a shooter opened fire from the rooftop of a building overlooking the crowd and the stage.
The gunman, later identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed one attendee and wounded two others, including Trump, whose right ear was grazed by a bullet.
The former president appeared multiple times at the Republican national convention in Milwaukee the following week with a bandage over the ear.
James Comer, the Congress oversight committee chairman, said the assassination attempt begged the question of whether the president, first lady, White House, and presidential candidates are safe with Cheatle leading the Secret Service.
Cheatle joined the Secret Service in 1995.
During her time as an agent, she supervised Joe Biden’s protective details when he was vice-president before becoming the deputy assistant director of protective operations.
After a short stint in the private sector working for PepsiCo, Cheatle was appointed to her current post of director by Biden in 2022.
The assassination attempt on Trump was the first mishap recorded under the director’s watch.
