Secret Service director evaded questions, accused of perjury during congressional testimony

The House Oversight Committee on Monday grilled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle for nearly five hours over the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

Cheatle faced repeated calls for her resignation or termination that crossed party lines but remained steadfast in her refusal to step aside.

Members accused Cheatle of "incompetence" and questioned the decision to allow Trump on stage after the agency became aware of a "suspicious" person who turned out to be the shooter.

Cheatle repeatedly admitted the agency failed in its core mission but evaded many questions, citing the "ongoing investigations."

Several committee members lost their patience with Cheatle over her evasion.

One memorable outburst saw Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., lash out at Cheatle. "That's bullsh*t," Mace told Cheatle when she denied knowing how a copy of Cheatle's opening statement was leaked to the press.

Mace later told Cheatle she was "full of sh*t today" after Cheatle evaded Mace's "yes or no questions." Another member of the committee interjected to call for civility in the proceedings.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., did not mince words when speaking to Cheatle, accusing the director of lying to the committee: "I feel you have perjured yourself."

Luna called for a review of the hearing transcript and bringing charges if warranted.

When Cheatle did answer questions, her responses failed to satisfy the committee members. During a heated exchange with Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., Cheatle stated her belief that the July 13 rally had sufficient resources.

An incredulous Timmons fired back, "Did you just say there were sufficient resources?"

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and Cheatle engaged in a tense exchange during the hearing, with Turner calling Cheatle "incompetent" and demanding her termination.

"You look incompetent," remarked Turner, who stated that if Cheatle did not resign, "President Biden needs to fire you."

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., criticized the decision not to pause the July 13 rally despite warnings from rallygoers of a possible shooter on the roof.

Krishnamoorthi showed Cheatle a video of rallygoers alerting law enforcement to the shooter's presence on the roof two minutes before the attempt on Trump's life.

"That looks like threatening behavior to me," posited Krishnamoorthi while demanding to know why the Secret Service allowed the rally to continue despite warning signs.

Throughout the hearing, Cheatled emphasized that the agency treats "suspicious" and "threatening" individuals differently. Because the field agents only deemed the would-be assassin "suspicious" before the shooting and not "threatening," Trump was allowed to take the stage.

Cheatle called the attempt on Trump's life the agency's "most significant operational failure" in many years.

"The Secret Service's solemn mission is to protect our nation's leaders. On July 13th, we failed," Cheatle admitted.

Cheatle's candid admission did not sway the committee, and calls for her resignation or removal abounded.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., joined fellow members of both parties in demanding an end to Cheatle's tenure.

Khanna said that federal agencies must "transcend politics" and implied that a lack of confidence in Cheatle's leadership, particularly among Trump supporters, was harming the Secret Service.