House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R., Ky.) is taking action to ensure embattled Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle appears for a highly-anticipated congressional hearing next week.
Comer subpoenaed Cheatle on Wednesday to ensure she testified before the committee next week about the intelligence failures surrounding the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump last weekend. She previously promised that she would show up to the hearing.
“The assassination attempt of the former President and current Republican nominee for president represents a total failure of the agency’s core mission and demands Congressional oversight,” Comer wrote in a subpoena cover letter.
“Despite allowing you to speak with the media, both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secret Service have failed to provide assurances regarding your appearance at the Oversight Committee’s scheduled hearing, thereby necessitating the attached subpoena.”
The Secret Service was expected to brief the Oversight Committee but the plan fell through once DHS took over communications, a committee spokeswoman told NR on Tuesday. Comer said in his letter that no “meaningful updates” have been given to the committee since the DHS intervened.
“Americans demand accountability and transparency about the Secret Service’s failures that led to the attempted assassination of President Trump, but they aren’t getting that from President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security. We have many questions for Director Cheatle about the Secret Service’s historic failure and she must appear before the House Oversight Committee next week,” Comer said in a statement.
Cheatle is expected to testify publicly on July 22 amid widespread calls for her resignation over the Secret Service’s failure to protect Trump. To prepare for the hearing, Comer requested the Secret Service turn over a trove of records related to Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa., and preserve all relevant documents.
Cheatle quickly agreed to comply Comer’s subpoena, solidifying her presence at the scheduled hearing next week.
“Director Cheatle has agreed to comply with Chairman Comer’s subpoena and the hearing will take place as scheduled on Monday, July 22. Americans demand and deserve answers from the Director about the attempted assassination of President Trump and the Secret Service’s egregious failures,” an Oversight Committee spokesperson told NR.
During a Trump rally on Saturday in Butler, Pa., gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from the rooftop of a nearby building, wounding Trump’s right ear and killing retired fireman Corey Comperatore, 50, who protected his daughters from gunfire. Trump appears to be in good spirits and has worn a large bandage over his ear at the first two nights of the Republican national convention this week.
Two other victims were wounded during the shooting and Secret Service gunned down Crooks after he opened fire. Before Crooks carried out the attack, a police officer climbed up to the rooftop he was situated on, but backed down once Crooks pointed his rifle at him, Butler Township Sheriff Michael Slupe confirmed on Monday.
Cheatle told ABC News no counter-snipers were situated on the rooftop because its sloped roof presented a safety hazard, a major admission of failure by the Secret Service. The failed assassination attempt against Trump is one of the most significant law enforcement failures in U.S. history, and it is already the subject of multiple investigations. The FBI is leading the law enforcement investigation by federal, state, and local entities.