Kim Cheatle, Director of the US Secret Service, steps down from her position within the agency

US Secret Service director Kim Cheatle has resigned after security failures surrounding an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Ms. Cheatle took full responsibility for the security lapse in a resignation letter to agency staff on Tuesday. The resignation came after a contentious House committee hearing where lawmakers from both parties called for her to step down.

During the hearing, Ms. Cheatle faced intense scrutiny and frustration from lawmakers when she refused to answer questions about the shooting at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania earlier this month. The incident left one audience member dead and two others wounded.

In her resignation letter, Ms. Cheatle expressed that she had always prioritized the needs of the agency and made the decision to step down with a heavy heart. President Joe Biden expressed gratitude for her decades of public service and stated that an independent review of the security lapse would continue.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has appointed Ronald Rowe as the acting director of the agency. Mr. Rowe, a 24-year Secret Service veteran, had been serving as the deputy director since April 2023.

Ms. Cheatle, who was appointed to head the Secret Service in 2022, had a long history with the agency, including roles in protecting Vice-President Dick Cheney during the 9/11 attacks and supervising Mr. Biden’s protective detail.

The resignation of Ms. Cheatle has sparked mixed reactions, with some calling it overdue and others hoping for a thorough independent investigation into the security failures. The incident has raised concerns about the Secret Service’s ability to fulfill its protective mission and rebuild trust with the American people.