Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle faced tough questions from both Republicans and Democrats during a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Monday. Lawmakers expressed frustration as Ms. Cheatle either could not or would not provide key details about the attempted assassination of President Trump.
One of the main questions that Ms. Cheatle avoided answering was why the Secret Service did not have an agent stationed on the warehouse roof where the gunman positioned himself as a sniper. When pressed on this issue, Ms. Cheatle mentioned that the rooftop was intentionally left unmanned as the agency preferred “sterile” rooftops. She explained that the warehouse rooftop was supposed to receive “overwatch” from law enforcement officers positioned at a higher vantage point. Ms. Cheatle stated that there was a plan in place for overwatch and they were still investigating who was responsible for providing it.
Another question that went unanswered was how many Secret Service agents were assigned to protect President Trump during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Ms. Cheatle declined to provide a specific number and did not disclose how many officers from other federal law enforcement agencies were present to support the Secret Service. She simply stated that they believed there were a sufficient number of agents assigned to the President’s protection detail.
Lawmakers also inquired about who made the decision to exclude the warehouse roof from the Secret Service’s security perimeter during Mr. Trump’s rally. Unfortunately, Ms. Cheatle did not provide a clear answer to this question, leaving many unsatisfied with her responses.
Overall, the hearing raised more questions than answers, and lawmakers were left wondering why the Secret Service director was unable to provide crucial information regarding the security measures in place during the President’s public appearance. The lack of transparency from Ms. Cheatle only added to the confusion and frustration surrounding the attempted assassination incident. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen whether more clarity will be provided regarding the Secret Service’s actions and decision-making process.