Joe Biden, as director of the US Secret Service, resigns

Washington:

Following the firing of US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle over the agency’s handling of protecting former President Trump, President Joe Biden thanked her “for her decades of public service” to the nation.

Biden also said he plans to soon name a new director for the USSS.

Praising Cheatle’s service, Biden underscored how she selflessly dedicated herself and risked her life to protect the country throughout her career with the United States Secret Service.

“Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service. She selflessly dedicated herself and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career with the United States Secret Service. We are especially grateful to her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our administration and are grateful for his service to our family,” a White House statement read, citing President Joe Biden’s statement on Tuesday (local time).

Cheatle’s resignation comes amid ongoing investigations by lawmakers and an internal government watchdog into how the agency handled Trump’s security and how a gunman nearly killed the Pennsylvania Republican presidential nominee during a rally this month.

“As a leader, it takes honor, courage and incredible integrity to assume full responsibility for an organization charged with one of the most challenging jobs in public service,” Biden said in a statement.

“The independent review to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to evaluating its findings. We all know that what happened that day can never happen again. As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best , and I will plan to appoint a new director soon,” he added.

One rally participant was killed and several others were injured in the event, which narrowly missed Trump’s head.

Trump was on stage at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania when gunshots rang out and Secret Service agents rushed the stage. Hours after the shooting, Trump said the bullet pierced the top of his right ear.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

Demands for Cheatle’s resignation have also been raised by members of Congress from both parties, and Republicans have continually pushed for his impeachment since Trump was shot at the rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.

After Monday’s public hearing before the House Oversight Committee, where she refused to answer several questions from the committee, lawmakers were especially furious, according to CNN.

Although Cheatle said there were “significant” and “colossal” problems with rally security during her testimony before the House Oversight Committee, she had previously refused to resign.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)