Kansas lawmakers react to Secret Service director resignation

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, is resigning following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

Cheatle had been facing growing calls to resign amid several investigations into how a 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.”

In response, Kansas lawmakers released the following statements on her departure.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats agree, Director Cheatle has not been transparent in the days following the assassination attempt of former President Trump and is at fault for the shortcomings of the agency she led on that day. Director Cheatle admitted to the House Oversight Committee that failing to protect a former president and current presidential candidate from an assassination attempt was a colossal failure that resulted in the death and injuries of innocent rallygoers, and I’m glad to see that she has resigned.”

Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.)

Cheatle’s resignation is only step one of cleaning house. Everyone who is involved in the oversight and massive failures that left President Trump within centimeters of losing his life and killed an American hero, Corey Comperatore, should follow suit immediately. We will not stop demanding accountability for what happened that day.”

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.)

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