Hibapress
Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle told Congress on Monday that the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was “the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades.”
In a hearing before the US Congress, Cheatle took full responsibility for security failures on the day of the attempted assassination of Trump.
“The solemn mission of the Secret Service is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13, we failed,” the agency acknowledged before a House committee.
“As director of the Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security breaches,” she said, while vowing to do what is necessary to ensure that what happened never happens again.
Trump was injured in the ear and evacuated after being shot several times during a campaign rally held on July 13 in Pennsylvania (northeast).
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service 26 seconds after the first of eight shots he fired.
One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured.
According to the FBI, the perpetrator of the assassination attempt, whose motive remains unknown, acted alone and had no ideological affiliation.
Cheatle has faced calls to resign following the assassination attempt targeting the former president and Republican presidential candidate in November’s election.
