Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is resigning from her post after initially resisting pressure from Congress to do so.
Ms. Cheatle announced her decision Tuesday in an email to staff, according to The Associated Press. She said she takes “full responsibility for the security lapse” at former President Donald Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was nearly assassinated, a rallygoer was killed and two others were critically injured.
“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director,” she said.
The Washington Times reached out to the Secret Service for confirmation of the email. Her resignation was confirmed by President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Mr. Mayorkas appointed Ronald Rowe, the Secret Service’s deputy director, to serve as acting director until a permanent replacement is named. Mr. Rowe has served 24 years in the Secret Service, including leadership roles in protective operations and the agency’s intergovernmental and legislative affairs office.
“I appreciate his willingness to lead the Secret Service at this incredibly challenging moment, as the agency works to get to the bottom of exactly what happened on July 13 and cooperate with ongoing investigations and Congressional oversight,” Mr. Mayorkas said.
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The Secret Service has a $3.1 billion budget and roughly 8,000 employees and provides regular protection to three dozen U.S. leaders, as well as temporary protection for visiting foreign dignitaries.
Mr. Biden said in a statement that he was grateful for Ms. Cheatle’s nearly three decades of public service, “selflessly” dedicating and risking her life to serve in the Secret Service and “answering the call to lead” the agency during his administration. Ms. Cheatle served on Mr. Biden’s detail when he was vice president.
“As a leader, it takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service,” the president said.
Mr. Mayorkas also issued a glowing statement about Ms. Cheatle, who he said returned from retirement to lead the Secret Service in 2022 because of “her devotion to country above all else.”
“Over the past two years, she has led the Secret Service with skill, honor, integrity, and tireless dedication,” he said. “She is deeply respected by the men and women of the agency and by her fellow leaders in the Department of Homeland Security.”
Former President Trump posted on Truth Social after the news of Ms. Cheatle’s resignation, “The Biden/Harris Administration did not properly protect me and I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy.”
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“IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!” Mr. Trump said.
Ms. Cheatle testified before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Monday and drew bipartisan condemnation and calls for her to resign after she dodged most of the lawmakers’ questions.
During the hearing, Ms. Cheatle was defiant amid the deluge of calls for her resignation, saying, “I think I’m the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time.”
The Secret Service is conducting an internal investigation into the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt, a probe expected to last 60 days. Ms. Cheatle had stressed the importance of continuity in leadership overseeing that investigation, but Oversight Committee members questioned how she could impartially review the security failures that occurred under her watch.
“The Oversight Committee’s hearing resulted in Director Cheatle’s resignation, and there will be more accountability to come,” panel Chairman James Comer, Kentucky Republican, said in a statement.
Ms. Cheatle “instilled no confidence that she has the ability to ensure the Secret Service can meet its protective mission,” he said.
Rep. Nancy Mace, South Carolina Republican, filed a resolution to impeach Ms. Cheatle after the hearing and had triggered a process under which the House would have had to vote on it by Wednesday. Ms. Mace will most likely withdraw the resolution now that its purpose is moot.
“It took a congressional subpoena, articles of impeachment, and one of the most embarrassing displays of incompetence in front of the nation and the 118th Congress to get Kimberly Cheatle to resign,” Ms Mace wrote on X.
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.