Republican senators confronted Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday over the attempted assassination of former President Trump on Saturday, demanding answers and accountability.
Video footage captured Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., along with Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., confronting Cheatle in Milwaukee. The lawmakers can be heard demanding answers from Cheatle, accusing her of “stonewalling” as she moved through the convention center.
The assassination attempt on Trump took place during a rally in Pennsylvania, where the former president was shot in the ear. One attendee was killed and two others were injured in the incident. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, is currently being investigated by the FBI for his motive.
Lawmakers have raised concerns about how the gunman was able to get close to Trump and fire multiple shots, with reports emerging of him climbing up the building. Cheatle has faced criticism for her handling of the situation, with some lawmakers calling for her resignation.
FBI Director Christopher Wray held briefings with both the House and Senate to address lawmakers’ questions and concerns. Cheatle has agreed to comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee and has acknowledged the shooting as “unacceptable.”
Despite her statements, Cheatle’s responses have failed to satisfy many Republican lawmakers, including Blackburn and Barrasso, who have called for her immediate resignation. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability within the Secret Service.
The investigation into the assassination attempt continues, as lawmakers push for transparency and answers from Cheatle and the Secret Service.
