GOP senator says ‘for once’ someone in Biden administration ‘should be held responsible’

EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) insisted that “for once in Joe Biden’s term, someone should be held responsible” regarding the Secret Service failing to stop the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle made an appearance at the Republican National Convention, prompting several Republican lawmakers to confront her and ask her more questions about how a 20-year-old was able to bypass the Secret Service and almost assassinate Trump.

While the Secret Service is still investigating the security breakdown, Marshall told the Washington Examiner it may have been a result of a total collapse in the organization’s culture due to diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates.

“Do you realize that half of the Secret Service officers quit last year?” Marshall told the Washington Examiner. “The year before that, half of them quit. These are 8,000 dedicated officers that are trying to protect 33 people, and they’re failing at their job. I think because [Cheatle] is more focused on hiring people with DEI than people that are competent to do the job.”

There is no evidence to suggest any DEI mandate caused the security breakdown that allowed the former president to be shot. 

Marshall said the reason so many different conspiracy theories surrounding the failed assassination are running rampant is because the public doesn’t trust the government.

“Americans have no confidence,” Marshall said. “The way you gain confidence back is by being fully transparent as possible.”

So far, Cheatle has resisted calls for her resignation, but Marshall said she must be held accountable.

“For once in Joe Biden’s term, someone should be held accountable,” Marshall told the Washington Examiner. “I’ve never been a part of any organization when I see a huge cultural problem and you don’t have to get rid of the head of the snake.”

Haisten Willis contributed to this report.