In a dramatic escalation of the controversy surrounding the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly called for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Critics have also complained that the Biden administration, through Homeland Defense Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, has blocked Cheatle from giving a previously agreed-upon briefing to the House Oversight Committee.
This move has ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill, highlighting the growing scandal over the agency’s security failures after Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, was nearly murdered in Pennsylvania over the weekend by a gunman.
On Fox, Johnson says he will call on USSS Director Cheadle to resign. Johnson says he is hearing rumblings that Cheadle may not testify on Monday
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 17, 2024
Speaking to ABC News, Johnson didn’t mince words about the Secret Service’s handling of the Butler, Pennsylvania rally where Trump was shot, calling it “inexcusable.”
Johnson’s criticism extended beyond the immediate security lapse, taking aim at Cheatle’s leadership priorities. He suggested that her focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, such as her goal to make the Secret Service 30% female by 2030, may have come at the expense of core security responsibilities.
“It doesn’t wash, and I think she’s shown what her priorities are,” Johnson stated.
Critics argue that DEI efforts should not overshadow or impede an agency’s primary mission, especially one as critical as protecting current and former presidents.
In response to the attempt on the 45th president’s life, Johnson announced plans to establish a special House task force.
This bipartisan group, potentially operational as early as Monday, would have subpoena power and operate without the usual “procedural hurdles,” allowing for what Johnson called a “precision strike” in following the many threads of the investigation.
Mayorkas, who oversees the Secret Service, has acknowledged the gravity of the security breach and conceded to “Good Morning America” that a “direct line of sight like that to the former president of the United States should not occur.”
He promised an independent investigation to generate recommendations for improving the agency’s protective capabilities, but seems to have blocked the Secret Service from briefing lawmakers —
Biden's Department of Homeland Security, led by impeached Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, just stepped in to block the Secret Service from providing a previously agreed-to briefing to lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee.
This is not how you inspire confidence.
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) July 16, 2024
With Cheatle thus far resisting calls for her resignation, the stage is set for a potential showdown between Congress and the Biden administration — which could have far-reaching consequences for the Secret Service’s leadership, operational protocols, and overall mission focus.