In her initial remarks following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle assured that the agency would fully engage in an independent review mandated by President Joe Biden.
She also confirmed the agency’s commitment to cooperating with Congress on any oversight actions. Appointed by Biden in 2022, Cheatle expressed confidence in the security plan for the upcoming Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, noting that adjustments have been made to Trump’s security detail since the incident.
Secret Service’s chief first public statement on the shooting
Questions arose about the Secret Service’s preparations after Saturday’s shooting, which wounded Trump, killed an attendee, and critically injured two others. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents. Concerns include how Crooks accessed a rooftop 150 meters from Trump’s podium, outside the security perimeter.
The Secret Service relied on local law enforcement to secure the area, but it’s unclear how Crooks gained access. A source indicated that local counter-sniper teams were assigned to cover the building, yet the security lapse remains under scrutiny.
Biden directed Cheatle to review all RNC security measures and conduct an independent inquiry into the rally shooting. The findings will be publicly released. Law enforcement sources noted that part of the review will assess whether the Secret Service had sufficient assets to protect Trump and if security sweeps were adequate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Homeland Security Committee members have called for investigations, with Johnson promising a comprehensive inquiry involving testimony from USSS, DHS, and the FBI. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged the incident as a security “failure” and promised a thorough review to prevent future occurrences.
