Kimberly A. Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service, faced intense questioning from lawmakers during a recent hearing regarding the agency’s handling of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. Despite the tough questions, Ms. Cheatle did not provide direct answers to many of them.
One of the topics that came up during the hearing was the Secret Service’s efforts to recruit more women. When asked about wanting one-third of the Secret Service to be women, Ms. Cheatle denied ever making that statement. However, Representative Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin was likely referring to comments Ms. Cheatle made in 2023, where she emphasized the importance of attracting diverse candidates and providing opportunities for women in the workforce.
In addition to questions about recruiting more women, lawmakers also inquired about the actions of a previous director who was in charge during an assassination attempt and the difference in staffing between an event for Mr. Trump and one held by First Lady Jill Biden on the same day. Ms. Cheatle did not provide detailed responses to these inquiries during the hearing.
While there are still many unknowns about the assassination attempt and the law enforcement response, it is clear that the hearing shed some light on the challenges and controversies surrounding the Secret Service’s operations. As the director of the agency, Ms. Cheatle will likely face continued scrutiny and pressure to address these issues in the future.