Donald Trump assassination attempt is the biggest Secret Service failure in decades
The assassination attempt on Donald Trump reveals the Secret Service's biggest operational failure in decades.
2024-07-24T14:09:52+00:00- Attack on Donald Trump a Historic Failure
- Trump Wounded in Assassination Attempt
- Congress Members Demand Cheatle’s Resignation
The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has been described as the «greatest operational failure» of the Secret Service «in decades.»
This was acknowledged by the director of the United States Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, before Congress, according to EFE.
In a hearing before a House of Representatives committee, Cheatle took «full responsibility» for the «security lapse» of her agency.
She assured that they are cooperating with ongoing investigations into the attack.
Donald Trump Wounded
«The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 is the greatest operational failure of the Secret Service in decades,» Cheatle stated.
The Republican opposition has called for Cheatle’s resignation, as she leads the agency responsible for Trump’s security.
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Trump was shot in the ear while attending a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The shooter had climbed onto a rooftop about 140 meters from the former president, although outside the security perimeter.
Witnesses had alerted about the suspicious presence of the shooter, a 20-year-old man, two minutes before the shots were fired. His motives to shoot former president Donald Trump remain unknown.
During the hearing, Republicans protested Cheatle’s refusal to answer most of their questions.
Cheatle argued that there are several ongoing investigations with which the Secret Service is cooperating to clarify what went wrong in the operation.
The seriousness of the incident has generated a strong political reaction.
The Republicans control the House of Representatives and have been especially critical of Cheatle. They demand clear answers and accountability for the security failure.
Director Cheatle is under intense public and political pressure. The assassination attempt on Donald Trump has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the Secret Service.
The agency is responsible for the protection of the country’s top political leaders, EFE detailed.
This incident marks a critical point in the recent history of presidential security in the United States.