United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle should be out of a job by now. Her agency spectacularly failed to protect former President Donald Trump, who narrowly escaped assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Picture this: a rooftop with a clear line of sight to the stage at the rally, completely unsecured and unswept, despite it being flagged as a security risk. Trump dodged a fatal headshot by mere millimeters. And why was this rooftop left open? Cheatle claimed the sloped roof posed a safety concern. Seriously? Many questions remain unanswered, and last night at the Republican Convention, things hit the fan.
At the Republican National Convention, chaos erupted as senators confronted Cheatle. Not just any senators, but heavy hitters like John Barrasso of Wyoming, the third-ranking Senate Republican, and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. They cornered Cheatle at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, demanding her resignation or a full explanation for the security lapses. And to add fuel to the fire, a staffer recorded the entire confrontation and sent it to a reporter. Blackburn even posted the video on X, showing Barrasso practically yelling at Cheatle for allowing Trump to go onstage despite identifying the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, as a threat.
“You put him within less than an inch of his life,” Barrasso shouted, nearly foaming at the mouth. “So, resignation or full explanation.” And what did Cheatle do? She bolted like a frightened wombat. Every day brings more damning updates about this assassination attempt, painting a bleak picture of the Secret Service’s competence. And when Homeland Security Director Alejandro Mayorkas expressed his full confidence in Cheatle, it was clear no heads would roll. Why? Because Cheatle is Jill Biden’s bestie, and Joe won’t do anything to upset Lady Macbeth.
Cheatle admitted that the responsibility stopped with her but then played the classic dodgeball game, refusing to take the fall for the near-fatal security lapses. This mess almost got Trump killed and did result in one man dead and two others wounded. The incompetence is staggering, and the accountability is non-existent. If Cheatle had any sense of duty, she would resign immediately.
But don’t hold your breath. Instead, the House is launching a full-blown investigation into this assassination attempt. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get some answers and see some accountability. Until then, buckle up, because this scandal isn’t going away anytime soon.
The American people deserve answers from the Secret Service. pic.twitter.com/PNFF11v00Q
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) July 18, 2024
