In a dramatic showdown at the Republican National Convention (RNC), Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheatle was fiercely pursued by US senators who were demanding answers about a serious security lapse.
The confrontation occurred after Cheatle, who was on-site in Milwaukee to oversee security, faced criticism for her handling of a recent shooting incident.
The confrontation began when Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, visibly agitated, chased Cheatle down the hallways of the convention venue.
They were upset that they hadn’t had the opportunity to question Cheatle during a recent conference call about a shooting in Pennsylvania.
Barrasso, in particular, expressed his frustration loudly, demanding either Cheatle’s resignation or a full explanation of the incident.
The chase escalated as Cheatle, trying to evade her pursuers, dashed up a flight of stairs. The pursuit ended when Cheatle slipped into a bathroom and her security team blocked the senators from entering.
The intense moment was later captured on video and shared by Senator Blackburn.
Following the confrontation, both Barrasso and Blackburn voiced their dissatisfaction with the information they received during the call with Cheatle and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Barrasso criticized the call as inadequate and described it as a “cover-your-a** call,” indicating that they were still waiting for answers about how the shooter managed to fire from the roof.
Growing Controversy
The criticism of Cheatle intensified after it was revealed that her agents had been alerted about the shooter, Thomas Crooks, prior to the incident.
Cheatle had opted to secure the building from the inside rather than positioning snipers on the roof where Crooks fired from.
She defended her decision by citing the safety risks of placing agents on the sloped roof.
Questions of Competence and Background
Cheatle’s background and appointment have come under scrutiny.
Before her 2022 appointment by President Biden, she had a long career at PepsiCo as a senior director in Global Security. Some Republicans have questioned her qualifications, with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Ky.) calling her a “diversity hire” and suggesting that her previous experience might not be sufficient for the role.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Investigation
The controversy has sparked calls for a thorough examination of the Secret Service’s actions and decision-making processes.
House Judiciary Committee member Kelly Armstrong has emphasized the need for serious questions to be answered.
Meanwhile, Cheatle’s decision to avoid answering questions until now has surprised many, especially since she was absent from the initial FBI press conference.
The investigation, directed by the Justice Department rather than Homeland Security, indicates a high level of scrutiny and concern surrounding the incident.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated that Cheatle remains committed to transparency and leading the agency through this challenging period, despite the mounting pressure and calls for accountability.
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