Secret Service director reveals no one has been disciplined after Trump assassination attempt

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told House lawmakers on Monday during a hearing that no employees from her agency have seen disciplinary action as a result of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump more than a week ago.

When questioned by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), Cheatle said no personnel have been disciplined “at this time,” but she indicated that there could be disciplinary action in the future.

“So no employee has been disciplined, and no employee has been placed in any position that would place their job in jeopardy?” Sessions asked.

As Cheatle began to speak about how the agency was still in a review process, Sessions interjected, accusing her of failing to answer his question.

“When I have a full and complete report of exactly what happened, there will be accountability and we will make changes,” Cheatle said.

The director said her agency’s internal review process would take 60 days and noted that several external investigations of the assassination attempt, including ones by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security inspector general, were also still open.

Cheatle underwent hours of tough questioning by House Oversight Committee members from both parties during the hearing. Lawmakers appeared baffled by the grave security failure at a Trump rally on July 13 that left one dead and two seriously injured. Trump’s head was grazed by a bullet, resulting in a minor injury to his ear.

After Sessions spoke, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said Cheatle’s responses were inadequate.

“The lack of answers and the lack of report is just simply not something that we can accept here,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) joined several of his colleagues in calling on her to resign.

Cheatle was again grilled later in the hearing by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on whether anyone has been reprimanded.

“How many Secret Service personnel have lost their jobs due to this colossal failure?” Mace asked.

“At this time, none,” Cheatle replied, later adding that her agency was still “examining the facts.”

Authorities say Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, crawled atop the roof of a building about 400 feet from where Trump was speaking at the rally and fired off multiple shots before he was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.

Cheatle, who has been with the Secret Service for nearly 30 years, admitted during her opening statement that the incident was “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.”