The House Oversight and Accountability Committee chair, Rep. James Comer, subpoenaed Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle as part of the ongoing investigation into the assassination attempt on President Trump and the security failures that occurred that day.
Trump was shot in the ear by a gunman during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, prompting immediate calls from members of Congress for a comprehensive briefing on the incident and the security measures surrounding President Trump.
As Breaking Digest previously reported, immediately following the attempt on Trump’s life, Rep. Comer sent a letter to Cheatle requesting that she and the Secret Services members who were in Butler the day of shooting attend an emergency House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on July 22, 2024.
“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. 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 unsecure,” wrote Chairman Comer in his letter. “Americans demand answers from Director Kimberly Cheatle about these security lapses and how we can prevent this from happening again. We look forward to Director Cheatle’s testimony this upcoming Monday, July 22.”
Rep. Comer also posted the following on X:
I have already contacted the Secret Service for a briefing and am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing. The Oversight Committee will send a formal invitation soon.
My prayers are with President Trump and the victims of the assassination attempt at today’s rally in Pennsylvania. I thank the brave Secret Service members who put their lives at risk to protect President Trump and for the American patriots in the audience who helped others who were hurt. Political violence in all forms is unamerican and unacceptable. There are many questions and Americans demand answers.
🚨🚨🚨
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 14, 2024
I have already contacted the Secret Service for a briefing and am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing. The Oversight Committee will send a formal invitation soon.
My prayers are with President Trump and the victims of the…
On Wednesday, Breaking Digest reported that Biden’s Department of Homeland Security has launched an investigation into the actions of the Secret Service during President Trump’s rally on July 13th.
In response, Rep. Comer issued a subpoena to U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, in order to head off the apparent attempt by DHS to block her from testifying on Monday.
From Chairman Comer’s cover letter (bolding added for emphasis):
On the day of the deadly attack, the Committee sent a written request for your voluntary attendance at a public hearing on July 22, 2024. The Committee next wrote to you on July 15, 2024, requesting specific information in anticipation of your testimony at the July 22 public hearing. 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 intervention, there have been no meaningful updates or information shared with the Committee. 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.
🚨SUBPOENA🚨@GOPoversight fully expects Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a public hearing on July 22.
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 17, 2024
Americans deserve answers. pic.twitter.com/GHEnI0Mff4
Read the full cover letter and subpoena here.
