Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle Resigns Following Security Failures
The director of the Secret Service, Kimberly A. Cheatle, resigned on Tuesday after security failures during the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. Prominent Republican lawmakers had called for her to step down.
Acknowledging Shortcomings
In an email sent to Secret Service agents, Ms. Cheatle stated that the agency “fell short” of its mission to protect national leaders during the assassination attempt. She emphasized that her resignation should not distract from the agents’ vital work.
A Difficult Decision
“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,” Ms. Cheatle wrote in the email. Despite her deep commitment to the agency, recent events prompted her decision to step down.
Rapid Fall from Grace
Ms. Cheatle, a veteran who protected Vice Presidents Dick Cheney and Joseph R. Biden Jr., was publicly supported by Biden administration officials after a gunman shot at Mr. Trump at a rally on July 13. However, glaring security mistakes before the shooting and the subsequent criticism left her position in doubt.
Presidential Praise
President Biden had praised Ms. Cheatle during her appointment in August 2022, expressing complete trust in her judgment and counsel. Ms. Cheatle served the agency for nearly three decades.