House Speaker Mike Johnson says resignation of Secret Service director is overdue

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson reacts to the director of the Secret Service stepping down.

The director of the Secret Service is leaving her job, according to an email she sent to staff, following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that unleashed intensifying outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission.

Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, had been facing growing calls to resign and several investigations into how the shooter was able to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she said in the email to staff Tuesday. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”

Cheatle’s resignation comes a day after appeared before a congressional committee and was berated by hours by both Democrats and Republicans for the security failures. She called the attempt on Trump’s life the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades and said she takes fully responsibility for the security lapses, but angered lawmakers by failing to answer specific questions about the investigation.

At the hearing Monday, Cheatle remained defiant that she was the “right person” to lead the Secret Service, even as she said she took full responsibility the security lapses. When Republican Rep. Nancy Mace suggested Cheatle begin drafting her resignation letter from the hearing room, Cheatle responded, “No, thank you.”

The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to get within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where the former president was speaking when he opened fire. That’s despite a threat on Trump’s life from Iran leading to additional security for the former president in the days before the July 13 rally.

[loriarcher]

This goes much deeper, she's the "fall guy"

[robl]

Investigation should not stop with her resignation.

[oinkdez]

Another severance package for someone who failed at their job....

[dalestoner]

Family of Hero who died needs to Sue her

[radioroadmedia]

Alejandro Mayorkas and Christopher A. Wray ALSO NEED TO RESIGN

[adamphillips]

She had no business being in that position.

[Whiteni]

Maybe now we will start focusing on hiring based on merit again. After people have literally died.

[junehodge]

Resigned?!? Why wasn't she FIRED?!?! Freeze her accounts and put her under intense investigation. She needs more penalties than just losing her job!

[nathanosterhaus]

She should not be allowed to collect a pension or benefits.

[reneeschiavon]

She should have been fired last week!

[cryptbeats]

is there no room for a legal case against her for this negligence ?

[lindahelmbrecht]

Too much water has gone under the bridge…….government will never have my trust again!

[OMGitsErinD]

Mayorkas should be called to resign for not firing her and for the atrocities at the border as well.

[darla]

It always makes me laugh when they say regain public trust. Never had it, never will.

[FameAppeal]

Mike Johnson = customer service representative that will talk your head off

[nqyirwi]

She still needs to be held accountable for her incompetence.

[hskrnrs]

Accountability and/or charges for those agents involved and the director must be enacted!!!

[rkf]

Why don't they go after Mayorakas? (sp)

[williamanderson]

she should have been fired this administration is a disgrace

[SylviaRocha-bg]

She shouldn't be allowed to keep her benefits or at least, send her benefits to the hero that lost his life to his family