Republican senators confronted Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday over the attempted assassination of former President Trump on Saturday, demanding answers and accountability.
Video footage captured Sens. Marsha Blackburn, John Barrasso, James Lankford, and Kevin Cramer confronting Cheatle in Milwaukee, with Barrasso shouting, “Stonewalling,” as she moved through the convention center.
“This was an assassination attempt, you owe the people answers, you owe President Trump answers,” Blackburn asserted during the confrontation.
The lawmakers questioned Cheatle about the circumstances surrounding the attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot in the ear, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, is currently under investigation by the FBI.
Criticism of the Secret Service has been mounting, with lawmakers expressing concerns about how the gunman was able to get close enough to fire multiple shots. Cheatle has faced backlash for her comments about a “sloped roof” causing a safety issue during the incident.
Despite Cheatle’s promises to comply with a subpoena and conduct a review of the agency’s procedures, many Republican lawmakers, including Blackburn and Barrasso, remain unsatisfied with her responses.
“It is appalling that the Secret Service Director refused to answer our questions. She is a failed leader and needs to immediately step down from her position,” Blackburn stated.
FBI Director Christopher Wray held briefings with Congress to address concerns, with Barrasso describing the meeting as a “cover-your-a—briefing.”
As the investigation into the assassination attempt continues, the pressure on Cheatle and the Secret Service to provide answers and ensure the safety of the president and the public remains high.
