Pressure on Secret Service grows after Donald Trump attackFlaws in the security system set up for the Saturday, July 13, rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, are ending up in the crosshairs of Congress. House Oversight Committee Chairman Republican Congressman James Comer has subpoenaed Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Shettle will then have to testify in Washington on Monday, July 22. Comer justified his decision by explaining that the “lack of transparency and lack of cooperation” with the committee raised questions about Shettle’s ability to lead the Secret Service and made the subpoena necessary.
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Greene also called Shettle to answer questions. FBI Director Christopher Wray and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas were also called.
Investigations become two
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security will also open an investigation into the Secret Service’s actions. According to a brief statement posted on the department’s website, the investigation will focus on “actions taken to ensure President Trump’s safety during the July 13 rally.”
This investigation comes in addition to the independent investigation ordered by President Joe Biden into the work of all security agencies present at the rally and the investigation into the shooting coordinated by the FBI.
Johnson: Secret Service Director Should Resign
The issue is also becoming political. House Speaker Mike Johnson called for the Secret Service director to resign. The Republican leader then announced that he would form a congressional task force to coordinate investigations into alleged security flaws.
“I will also ask for his resignation,” Johnson said again in an interview with Fox News, speaking about Shettle. It was House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Republican, who on Tuesday asked for the resignation of the woman who heads the agency responsible for protecting presidents and former presidents.
In particular, Johnson criticized that, in an interview with ABCnews, Shettle justified the fact that there were no agents stationed on the roof where Thomas Matthew Crooks — the 20-year-old sniper who shot Trump — climbed, explaining that it was a “sloping roof” and therefore dangerous to climb.
But it was noted that Secret Service snipers were positioned on other sloping roofs. “That doesn’t hold up,” the Speaker said. “I think you’ve made your priorities clear. We’re going to have a lot of questions to ask you.”
Eric Trump Calls for 'Accountability'
The Trump family also criticized Chittle. “Real accountability,” Eric Trump called for after Saturday’s attack on his father. “The men and women on that stage, at that moment, are the best people in the world,” the former president’s son said in an interview with CBS about the Secret Service agents protecting the businessman as he aims to return to the United States. White House
“I know many of them personally and they are exceptional people. I am sure they will get to the bottom of the matter and it would be better if there was a real takeover,” he declared.There can't be any former presidents getting shot in the ears.“, he added.
On Monday, Cheatle defended the actions of the agents protecting the businessman at the time of the Pennsylvania attack. “The Secret Service has a tremendous responsibility to protect the current and former leaders of our democracy — a responsibility I take incredibly seriously and am committed to carrying out my mission,” she said.
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