US Secret Service director resigns, says Trump assassination attempt was agency's biggest failure

US Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle has tendered her resignation after acknowledging the agency's failure at preventing an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during his rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.

"As your director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse," Cheatle said in a resignation letter to agency staff on July 23.

Cheatle's decision comes in response to calls for her resignation from both Democrats and Republicans following a heated congressional hearing on July 22 about the shooting.

A 20-year-old gunman identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at former Republican president and current White House candidate at a July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A man standing in the audience was killed in the attack and two others were badly wounded.

"It is overdue, she should have done this at least a week ago," Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, told reporters.

"I'm happy to see that she has heeded the call of both Republicans and Democrats," he said.
President Joe Biden who recently withdrew from the presidential race over mounting pressure over his health concerns, thanked Cheatle for her nearly three decades in the Secret Service.

"She selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career," Biden said.
"We all know what happened that day can never happen again," the US President said in a statement. "As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best, and I will plan to appoint a new director soon," he added.

Cheatle acknowledged the agency's failure in preventing the attack on Trump, who was slightly wounded in his right ear, during a congressional oversight committee on July 22.

She called it "the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades."
As of now, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has appointed Ronald Rowe as acting director of the agency.

Rowe, a 24-year Secret Service veteran, has held the position of deputy director since April 2023.

Cheatle was appointed as the head of the Secret Service in 2022. US Secret Service is responsible for overseeing the protection of current and former presidents and other officials. She had previously served 27 years at the agency in various roles.