Nancy Mace Slams Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Over Trump Assassination Attempt
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/23rd July 2024
In a dramatic hearing before the House Oversight Committee, US Representative Nancy Mace fiercely criticized Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle concerning the assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. During the session, Mace relentlessly questioned Cheatle, who is under intense pressure from both political parties to resign. The Congresswoman accused Cheatle of dishonesty and mishandling the incident.
The July 13 shooting attack on Trump during his rally in Pennsylvania has drawn considerable scrutiny, and Mace seized the opportunity to hold Cheatle accountable. She posed a series of yes-or-no questions, prompting Cheatle to concede that the attack was indeed a “colossal failure” and deemed “preventable.” This acknowledgment from Cheatle came amid mounting criticisms of the Secret Service’s handling of the situation.
Mace’s interrogation did not stop at the failures surrounding the shooting. She also questioned Cheatle about the leak of her opening statement prior to the hearing, to which Cheatle responded with, “no idea.” Mace, visibly frustrated, dismissed Cheatle’s answer as “bulls***,” further intensifying the confrontation.
The Congresswoman continued to press Cheatle on the Secret Service’s transparency and compliance with the committee’s demands regarding the Trump shooting. Cheatle’s repeated responses of “I will have to get back to you on that” were met with Mace’s blunt criticism, accusing Cheatle of being “completely dishonest” and expressing her discontent with the agency’s responses.
In a dramatic move, Mace introduced a privileged motion to impeach Cheatle, forcing the House leadership to address the resolution within two legislative days. This motion, announced with a tweet showcasing the historic nature of the action, reflects the gravity of the situation and the severe dissatisfaction with Cheatle’s performance.
The attempted assassination has led to severe scrutiny of the Secret Service, particularly targeting Cheatle. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have expressed concern over the apparent security lapses that allowed a gunman to get so close to a former president and the leading Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
Despite the bipartisan calls for her resignation, Cheatle has resisted stepping down, defending her position amidst the growing calls for accountability. The Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, and top Democrat, Jamie Raskin, who are typically at odds on many issues, have both voiced their support for Cheatle’s departure.
The intensity of the hearing and the sharp criticism from Representative Mace underscore the critical nature of the investigation into the Secret Service’s role in the Trump assassination attempt. As the House of Representatives moves forward with the impeachment motion, the outcome will significantly impact the agency’s leadership and its future operations in safeguarding high-profile individuals.
