Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday in a hearing regarding the attempted assassination of former President Trump. The incident took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was shot in the ear, resulting in the death of one attendee and injuries to two others.
The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Cheatle to appear as part of an ongoing investigation into the shooting. The Secret Service has emphasized its commitment to understanding the events leading up to and following the assassination attempt to prevent such incidents in the future.
Following the shooting, concerns were raised by lawmakers from both parties regarding the Secret Service's handling of the situation. Questions have been raised about how the gunman managed to get close to the former president and fire multiple shots.
Chairman James Comer expressed the need for transparency and accountability from Cheatle during her upcoming testimony. The House Homeland Security Committee has also called for a hearing and subpoenaed documents from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Despite facing intense criticism, Cheatle has stated that she does not intend to resign. She has acknowledged the severity of the incident and emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough review to enhance the agency's operations.
Lawmakers, including Senators from both parties, have launched investigations into the Secret Service's handling of the rally. The DHS Office of Inspector General is also reviewing the agency's response to the incident.
As Cheatle prepares to testify before Congress, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
