Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify Monday about Trump shooting
The House Oversight Committee refused to push back the date of U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's testimony.
Washington — U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, following calls for her resignation after Saturday's attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. "Americans deserve answers from Director Kimberly Cheatle regarding the Secret Service's significant security lapses that led to the attempted assassination of President Trump, the tragic murder of an innocent bystander, and injuries to others in the crowd," stated GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee's chairman, in a statement announcing the 10 a.m. ET hearing.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, affirmed the agency's commitment to thoroughly investigate the events surrounding the shooting, stating they aim to ensure such incidents do not recur. This week, the Republican-led committee and the Secret Service engaged in discussions about scheduling Cheatle’s testimony, which ultimately led Comer to issue a subpoena for her appearance on Monday. In response, the Secret Service expressed Cheatle's willingness to testify but requested a postponement to later in the week or the following week. However, both Comer and the committee’s leading Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, rejected this request, emphasizing in a rare joint statement that she must appear before the committee without delay on Monday.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination, while other congressional Republicans also pledged to conduct their own inquiries. FBI Director Christopher Wray is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday regarding the FBI's investigation into the incident. Reporting contributed by Ellis Kim, Andres Triay, and Nicole Sganga.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, affirmed the agency's commitment to thoroughly investigate the events surrounding the shooting, stating they aim to ensure such incidents do not recur. This week, the Republican-led committee and the Secret Service engaged in discussions about scheduling Cheatle’s testimony, which ultimately led Comer to issue a subpoena for her appearance on Monday. In response, the Secret Service expressed Cheatle's willingness to testify but requested a postponement to later in the week or the following week. However, both Comer and the committee’s leading Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, rejected this request, emphasizing in a rare joint statement that she must appear before the committee without delay on Monday.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination, while other congressional Republicans also pledged to conduct their own inquiries. FBI Director Christopher Wray is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday regarding the FBI's investigation into the incident. Reporting contributed by Ellis Kim, Andres Triay, and Nicole Sganga.