The director of the Secret Service says the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was the “most significant operational failure” in decades.
Cheatle told the House Oversight and Accountability Committee that he took “full responsibility for any security failures.”
He shooting at an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injured Trump’s right ear, killing one audience member and injuring another on July 13.
The latest as Secret Service chief questioned over Trump shooting
Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old nursing home attendant suspected in the shooting, was killed by law enforcement.
The fact that the suspect was able to approach Trump on the rooftop of a nearby building has angered lawmakers who blame security failures at the Secret Service.
Citizens had pointed out a suspect to authorities before the shooting.
“We failed. As director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security failures,” Cheatle said in her testimony before the committee.
“The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 is the Secret Service’s most significant operational failure in decades.”
In response to Republican claims that the agency denied resources to protect Trump, he said security for the former president had been increased before the shooting.
“The level of security provided to the former president increased well before the campaign and has been steadily increasing as threats evolve,” he said.
“Our mission is not political. It is literally a matter of life and death.”
The secret service ‘failed’ Trump
The House Judiciary Committee says it has evidence the agency was under-resourced for Trump’s rally due to staffing shortages created by a rival event in the same state and a NATO summit days earlier. in Washington.
But so far, Cheatle has defied calls for his departure.
Read more:
How a tree could have protected Trump
An armed man flew a drone over the protest site
Kimberly Cheatle. Photo: Reuters
“Continuity of operations is paramount during a critical incident and US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has no intention of resigning,” spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
“She deeply respects members of Congress and is firmly committed to transparency by leading the Secret Service through the internal investigation and strengthening the agency through the lessons learned in these important internal and external reviews.”
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be posted shortly.
Please refresh the page to get the full version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via SkyNews app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our Youtube channel to stay up to date with the latest news.
Click to subscribe to Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Stay up to date with the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
