Eight members of the Tennessee congressional delegation reacted to U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation on Tuesday, agreeing that her decision to step down was in the agency’s best interest.
Cheatle’s resignation came 10 days after former President Donald Trump was grazed by a single bullet in his upper right ear in what is formally being investigated as a failed assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The independent review to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to assessing its conclusions.
What happened that day can never happen again.
As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best, and I will plan to appoint a new Director soon.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 23, 2024
The Secret Service has since been under scrutiny for its failure to recognize the threat posed by the would-be assassin in what Cheatle herself has called the “most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.”
Despite calls for Cheatle to resign from her post, the now former director maintained that she was the best person to lead the agency up until her announcement on Tuesday.
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who confronted Cheatle last week at the Republican National Convention, said she was “glad” to have learned of Cheatle’s resignation.
“Accountability must start at the top, and I’m glad to see Kimberly Cheatle come to the right decision – one that should have been made 10 days ago,” Blackburn said in a statement.
“Director Cheatle not only failed to do her duty as a leader, but she has consistently failed to provide forthcoming answers about the Secret Service’s operations on Saturday, July 13. Under her watch, President Trump was nearly assassinated, an innocent American was murdered, and other rally attendees were harmed. Make no mistake: while this is a positive step toward accountability, we need to know exactly what happened to ensure it never happens again,” Blackburn added.
U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) also said he was “pleased” to learn of Cheatle’s resignation.
The Secret Service’s job is one in which failure is not an option, and I look forward to gathering more information from the investigations and working with my colleagues to ensure that it is prepared to do that job. (2/2)
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) July 23, 2024
“I’m pleased to see this first necessary step toward accountability for the unacceptable security failures that led to the assassination attempt against President Trump,” Hagerty said.
“The Secret Service’s job is one in which failure is not an option, and I look forward to gathering more information from the investigations and working with my colleagues to ensure that it is prepared to do that job,” Hagerty added.
U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), who questioned Cheatle on Monday during a U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, was not pleased with Cheatle’s resignation, arguing that she “should’ve been fired.”
“She shouldn’t have been able to resign, she should’ve been fired. Her inability was clearly on display and it cost a brave firefighter his life and nearly cost the president his. This administration has a pattern of not naming the best and brightest to top posts, I’m glad she’s gone,” Burchett said.
Congressman Mark Green (R-TN-07), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said that while he was “pleased” with Cheatle’s decision to step down, it “will do nothing to stop our oversight efforts or the broader Congressional investigation—nor does it magically resolve all the problems and lapses that led to the massive security failure of July 13.”
As chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Green also held a hearing to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination of Trump on Tuesday.
Green also led a group of bipartisan committee members to the site in Butler on Monday to examine the scene where the attempted assassination took place.
“This failed attempt on President Trump’s life demands urgent and comprehensive congressional oversight. We must understand how it happened—and ensure changes are made—so this never happens again,” Green said.
It is good that Secret Service Director Cheatle has answered our calls to resign after the assassination attempt on President Trump.
The House will continue investigating the attempt on President Trump's life to ensure this never happens again. https://t.co/XjOyuKF5qb
— Chuck Fleischmann (@RepChuck) July 23, 2024
U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) called Cheatle’s resignation “good,” adding, “The House will continue investigating the attempt on President Trump’s life to ensure this never happens again.”
Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) agreed, saying Cheatle’s exit is a “good start” while also calling for the resignations of Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
I’m pleased to see some accountability now that Secret Service Director Cheatle has resigned.
Yet, Tennesseans deserve to know what happened at President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, PA, and that it will never happen again. pic.twitter.com/gWwChTtQCe
— Congressman John Rose (@RepJohnRose) July 23, 2024
U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06), who called Cheatle’s handling in the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt of Trump “unacceptable” while speaking on the House floor, said he was “pleased to see some accountability now that Secret Service Director Cheatle has resigned.”
Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) said he was “relieved” by Cheatle’s resignation on Tuesday, just one day after the congressman sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) encouraging that the House take up legislation to force Cheatle’s removal from her post.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
