Chairman James Comer of the House Oversight Committee issued U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle a subpoena on Wednesday after a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Comer subpoenaed Cheatle to appear in a House Oversight Committee hearing on July 22 to answer questions regarding the attempted assassination on Trump on July 13 during a Pennsylvania rally. The attempted assassination has since raised many questions about the competence of the U.S. Secret Service and the failures that took place that allowed 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks to take aim at a former president from a rooftop positioned just 130 yards away. (RELATED: Secret Service’s Explanations For Security Failures Ahead Of Trump’s Assassination Attempt Aren’t Adding Up)
“The lack of transparency and failure to cooperate with the Committee on this pressing matter by both DHS and the Secret Service further calls into question your ability to lead the Secret Service and necessitates the attached subpoena compelling your appearance before the Oversight Committee,” the subpoena reads.
🚨BREAKING: Chairman Comer Subpoenas Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle
“Initially, the Secret Service committed to your attendance. Subsequently, however, DHS officials appear to have intervened and your attendance is now in question. In addition, since DHS’s… pic.twitter.com/6OWOaJD84M
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 17, 2024
“The Department has responded to the Committee and relayed that Director Cheatle welcomes the opportunity to testify,” A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “This is in addition to the ongoing briefings being provided by Secret Service and law enforcement partners to Congress.”
The former president was wounded in the ear during his rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. One attendee at the rally was killed and two others were injured.
“The United States Secret Service has a no-fail mission, yet it failed on Saturday when a madman attempted to assassinate President Trump, killed an innocent victim, and harmed others,” Chairman Comer said in a press release announcing the subpoena. “We are grateful to the brave Secret Service agents who acted quickly to protect President Trump after shots were fired and the American patriots who sought to help victims, but questions remain about how a rooftop within proximity to President Trump was left unsecured.” (RELATED: Authorities Reportedly Spotted Trump’s Would-Be Assassin Nearly 30 Minutes Before He Opened Fire)
BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 13: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Americans demand answers from Director Kimberly Cheatle about these security lapses and how we can prevent this from happening again,” Comer said in the press release. “We look forward to Director Cheatle’s testimony this upcoming Monday, July 22.” (RELATED: ‘Massive Amount Of Blood’: VIP Trump Rally Guest Captures Terrifying Moments During Assassination Attempt)
Since the assassination attempt, several prominent lawmakers have called for investigations and hearings into the incident. On Sunday, Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he will launch a “full investigation” into the attempted assassination.
“Our prayers are with him, all the rally attendees, those who were injured, and the family of the individual who lost their life,” Johnson said in a post on X. “Congress will conduct a full investigation of the tragedy to determine where there were lapses in security.” (RELATED: ‘You Are Inhuman!’: Piers Morgan, Streamer Get Into Heated Exchange Over ‘Repulsive’ Trump Assassination Comments)
“We have cooperated extensively with Congressional oversight during this Congress and are committed to working with investigations and reviews of what happened on Saturday, including with Congress, the FBI, and the Inspector General,” the DHS spokesman told the DCNF.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comment from the DHS.
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