 "Quicksplained: Who is Kimberly Cheatle, US Secret Service chief who resigned after Trump assassination attempt?")
US Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle has resigned less than two weeks after the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
Cheatle in recent days faced pressure to resign after questions about how the Secret Service, which is assigned to protect presidents and former commanders-in-chief, failed to stop the shooter from getting close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the “subject involved” in what it termed an attempted assassination.
He was a registered Republican, according to state voter records.
Cheatle’s resignation came a day after she appeared before a Congressional committee and faced much criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for the security failures.
Cheatle described the attempt on Trump’s life the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades and said she took full responsibility for the security lapses.
However, she faced the wrath of lawmakers after failing to answer specific questions about the investigation.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she said in an email to staff. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”
Biden said in a statement that “we all know what happened that day can never happen again,” and he said he’d appoint a new director soon, but he did not discuss a timeline.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe president said he was grateful to Cheatle for her decades of public service. “We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our administration and we are grateful for her service to our family,” Biden said.
Here’s what we know about her.
More on the Donald Trump shooting:
How former US president escaped an assassination attempt
Did Secret Service ignore warnings of a gunman?
What we know and don’t know of the shooting
Who is Kimberly A Cheatle?
Kimberly A Cheatle is the 27th Director of the US Secret Service, sworn into office on September 17, 2022. She succeeded James M Murray (May 2019-September 2022).
The federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security is tasked with protecting former presidents including Trump with lifetime protection. Cheatle is responsible for successfully executing the agency’s integrated mission by leading a workforce of more than 7,800 personnel.
Cheatle has worked for the federal government for 27 years, holding several positions within the Secret Service.
Prior to her appointment as the Secret Service director, she served as the Senior Director in Global Security with PepsiCo, where she was responsible for security protocols for the company’s facilities in North America, according to the agency’s website.
Her previous role with the Secret Service was as the Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations. In the position, she collaborated with ten operational divisions and the Technical Security Division to research, develop and deploy technologies that reduce risks to protectees, protected facilities, and protected events.
Before that, Cheatle served as the Special Agent in Charge of the organisation’s field office in Atlanta.
She was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in February 2016 as the Special Agent in Charge of the James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC).
For her exceptional performance, she received The Woman in Federal Law Enforcement Public Service Award and the Presidential Rank Award. Her name was also featured in the list of 2022 women in security by the Security magazine.
The second woman to lead the Secret Service (Julia Pierson being the first), Cheatle did her BA from the Eastern Illinois University.
With inputs from agencies
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