Cheatle confirms that there are no radio recordings of the Pennsylvania Trump rally
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced tough questions from lawmakers regarding the agency’s security preparations during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Cheatle admitted that the Secret Service had no radio recordings from the day of the incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. She was pressed by Rep. Russell Fry about the agency’s communication recording practices, to which Cheatle responded that email communications, text messages, and depending on the detail, radio communications are recorded. When asked specifically about recordings from the July 13th event, Cheatle confirmed they did not have radio communications from that day.
During a hearing before the House Oversight Committee, members from both parties demanded Cheatle’s resignation in the aftermath of the assassination attempt. Rep. Ro Khanna emphasized the severity of the security lapse and insisted that such an incident required the director’s resignation. He pointed out historical examples, like Stuart Knight resigning after a serious security breach in the Secret Service. Cheatle also faced questions about why the Secret Service did not have an agent on the rooftop where the gunman took a direct shot at Trump, leading to fatalities and injuries among rallygoers. Cheatle mentioned ongoing investigations into the advance process as the reason for the lack of rooftop security.
Cheatle’s tenure as the head of the Secret Service has come under scrutiny following the high-profile incident, and calls for her resignation have intensified as lawmakers seek accountability for the security failures during the assassination attempt on Trump.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told lawmakers her agency has no radio recordings from the day of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this month.
On Monday, Cheatle was asked about the security agency’s records-keeping practices by Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C.
“Does the Secret Service routinely record communications between and amongst detail?” Fry said.
“Radio communications?” Cheatle clarified.
“Any communication,” Fry said.
“Email communications are captured as well as text messages. And then depending on the detail, radio communications are recorded,” Cheatle said.
“Does the Secret Service have recorded communications from the July 13th event?” Fry asked.
“We do not have radio communications from that day,” Cheatle said.
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) July 22, 2024
The Secret Service director remained defiant before the House Oversight Committee on Monday as members of both parties demanded her resignation following the assassination attempt of the Republican presidential nominee.
“I just don’t think this is partisan,” said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. “If you have an assassination attempt on the president, a former president, or a candidate, you need to resign.”
Khanna got Cheatle to agree the recent Trump shooting was “the most serious security lapse since President [Ronald] Reagan was shot in 1981.”
“Well, do you know what Stuart Knight did — he was in charge, at the time, of the Secret Service — do you know what he did?” Khanna asked.
“He remained on duty,” Cheatle said with confidence. The California congressman corrected her.
“He resigned. He resigned,” Khanna said. “And Stuart Knight was not a Democratic appointee … I’m not questioning your judgment, I just don’t think this is partisan. If you have an assassination attempt on a president or a former president or a candidate, you need to resign.”
Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna to Secret Service Director Cheatle: “I just don’t think this is partisan. If you have an assassination attempt on a president, a former president, or a candidate, you need to resign.” pic.twitter.com/9iPPFuNDxM
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) July 22, 2024
The hearing room released an audible sigh when Cheatle could not explain why her agency did not secure the rooftop from which the gunman was able to take a direct shot at Trump and kill another rallygoer. Two more spectators in the crowd were injured.
“Can you answer why the Secret Service didn’t place a single agent on the roof?” Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., asked.
“We are still looking into the advance process,” Cheatle said.
Comer: “At any point, did Secret Service have an agent on top of the roof?”
Cheatle: “We’re only nine days out from this incident and there is still an ongoing investigation.”
Comer: “Can you answer why you didn’t place an agent on that roof?”
Cheatle: “We’re still looking.” pic.twitter.com/VrN0dYUaP3
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 22, 2024
Last week, the Secret Service director told ABC News the roof was left clear of security personnel because it was “sloped.” Fox News reported the gunman apparently hid the firearm before the deadly shooting spree. Three counter-snipers were stationed inside the building, but none were on the rooftop. A source also told The Federalist that Trump’s team had repeatedly pled with federal officials to beef up security but were rebuffed “time and again.”
[RELATED: [RELATED: Any Roofer Worth His Salt Knows Secret Service’s ‘Sloped’ Roof Excuse Is Total Nonsense]
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the 20-year-old gunman had successfully flown a drone at the rally grounds hours before Trump’s speech.
“Thomas Matthew Crooks flew the drone on a programmed flight path earlier in the day on July 13 to scour the Butler Farm Show grounds ahead of Trump’s ill-fated rally,” the paper reported citing law-enforcement officials who were briefed. “The predetermined path, the officials added, suggests Crooks flew the drone more than once as he researched and scoped out the event site.”
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.
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