Resignation of the Director of the U.S. Secret Service sparks controversy following assassination attempt on Trump

The director of the United States Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, submitted her resignation on Tuesday, following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, sparking a wave of criticism against the agency and its failure to protect current and past presidents. Cheatle, who had taken office in August 2022, was facing mounting pressure and multiple investigations into how the assailant managed to get so close to the Republican presidential candidate during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. "I take full responsibility for the security breach," Cheatle stated in an email sent to staff and obtained by The Associated Press. In light of recent events, the now former director of the Secret Service made the difficult decision to step down from her position, although her resignation is not expected to end scrutiny of the agency following the failures on July 13. This incident occurred at a critical moment before the Democratic National Convention and amid a tumultuous presidential campaign season. In a hearing before a congressional committee the day before her resignation, Cheatle was strongly rebuked by lawmakers from both parties for the security deficiencies during the attack on Trump. The official described the incident as the most serious operational failure in decades for the Secret Service, assuming full responsibility for the failures but avoiding specific questions about the investigation, which led to further criticism. President Joe Biden, in a statement, stated that what happened that day cannot be repeated and announced that he would soon appoint a new director for the Secret Service. He thanked Cheatle for her years of public service and for leading the agency during his administration. Meanwhile, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas appointed Deputy Director Ronald Rowe, with 23 years of experience in the Secret Service, as interim director. During the congressional hearing, Cheatle maintained a defiant stance by stating that she was the right person to lead the agency, despite acknowledging the security failures. Faced with criticism and suggestions of resignation, the former director stood firm in her position. The investigation revealed that the assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to approach dangerously close to the stage where Trump was, despite prior information about possible threats. The shooting resulted in a tragic outcome with one assistant dead and two others seriously injured, in addition to Trump being wounded. Subsequent details showed that the Secret Service had been alerted multiple times about the suspect before the incident, and that the rooftop from where the attack was carried out had been identified as a possible vulnerability. However, there are still unanswered questions about why adequate preventive measures were not taken. Cheatle's resignation prompted a new reaction from Trump, who expressed on social media that he felt he was not adequately protected by the Biden/Harris administration, and that being shot was an honor for democracy. Meanwhile, the House Committee on Homeland Security had summoned Cheatle for a new hearing on the assassination attempt, which did not take place due to her resignation. The case of the assassination attempt against Trump has called into question the effectiveness and security of the United States Secret Service, triggering a series of investigations and criticisms that will continue to unfold to clarify the circumstances that led to the serious incident on July 13. The appointment of a new director and the ongoing audit aim to restore confidence in the agency tasked with protecting the country's most important political leaders.