Biden Names Kim Cheatle to Lead Secret Service
New York TimesDec 26, 2022
US Secret Service Director Cheatle Resigns
Above: July 22, 2024: United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testifies before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee during a hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kent Nishimura/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Director of the US Secret Service (USSS) Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday, writing to her staff that she "fell short" in the agency's "mission" to protect the nation's leaders, referring to the July 13 assassination attempt on former Pres. Donald Trump.
Her resignation came a day after she testified before the House Oversight Committee's hearing on the assassination attempt.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Kimberly Cheatle's refusal to resign immediately after the assassination attempt and failure to answer lawmakers' questions show she felt no duty to the agency or the American people. As the country wrapped its head around how the potential next president was shot, Cheatle has been let off the hook. Cheatle and her diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives should've never been in charge of the USSS.
Democratic narrative
The reason Cheatle didn't immediately resign was actually due to her dedication to the USSS. From the Homeland Security secretary to the president, some of the highest-level government officials rightly hold Cheatle in the highest regard. Besides, the fact of the matter is that did the right thing in the end by stepping down — a pattern throughout her tenure as director.
Cynical narrative
While Kimberly Cheatle should certainly be questioned about her own failures, lawmakers and journalists have begun digging up other government officials and agencies who were potentially involved in covering up this unprecedented security failure. This also draws similarities to the mysterious pipe bombs in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6 — another bizarre case of government failure and secrecy.