Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called for new leadership of the U.S. Secret Service on Wednesday in the wake of a recent assassination attempt on former President Trump.
“The near assassination of former President Trump last week was a serious attack on American democracy,” McConnell said in a post in X. “The nation deserves answers and accountability. New leadership at the Secret Service would be an important step in that direction.”
McConnell’s comments follow a shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania last weekend, in which a bullet grazed the former president’s ear. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and her agency have faced scrutiny over their handling of the incident, with some questioning how the shooter gained access to a rooftop that had a clear line of sight to the elder Trump.
McConnell’s fellow Republican leader, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), called for Cheatle’s resignation on Wednesday and also said he will form a task force to consolidate investigations focused on the security breaches surrounding of Saturday’s rally.
“I think it’s inexcusable,” Johnson said.
The US Secret Service received support from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after the shooting, who said he had “100 percent” confidence in the agency.
The Hill contacted the Secret Service.
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