Secret Service Under Scrutiny After Trump Assassination Attempt

The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has cast a spotlight on the Secret Service and its leadership under Director Kimberly Cheatle. Critics are questioning the agency’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) following the attack at a Pennsylvania rally, which left Trump injured and one supporter dead.

On Saturday, Trump narrowly escaped a bullet when Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel, Pennsylvania, fired eight shots from a rooftop 130 yards away. The attack killed Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who shielded his family, and wounded others at the rally.

Director Cheatle, appointed by President Biden nearly two years ago, has made DEI a priority for the agency. In interviews, she emphasized attracting diverse candidates and increasing female agents to 30% of the workforce by 2030. “I’m very conscious as I sit in this chair now of making sure that we need to attract diverse candidates,” Cheatle told CBS News.

However, this focus has drawn criticism in light of the security breach. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has called for Cheatle to testify on July 22. Conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino criticized the agency for denying increased protection requests for Trump. “There have been repeated requests to increase the security footprint around not just the residences of Donald Trump but the body itself, and they have been rebuffed,” Bongino told Fox News.

Social media videos showing female agents struggling to protect Trump during the attack have fueled further criticism. Some footage depicted agents having difficulty holstering firearms and appearing unable to effectively shield Trump.

Cheatle’s focus on diversity is being scrutinized amid these security concerns. In a USA Today interview, she expressed hope that “diversity is just part of this agency.” Critics argue that this priority may have overshadowed essential security measures.

The FBI identified Crooks as the shooter. Despite snipers neutralizing him, questions remain about how he accessed the rooftop. Reports indicate a local officer encountered Crooks but retreated, allowing him to shoot at Trump and into the crowd.

Elon Musk, who endorsed Trump after the attack, called for Cheatle’s resignation. “Extreme incompetence or it was deliberate,” Musk tweeted. “Either way, the SS leadership must resign.”

As investigations continue, the Secret Service faces increased scrutiny over its priorities and handling of the incident. The balance between DEI initiatives and maintaining robust security measures remains a contentious issue.