House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) issued a subpoena for United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear before the committee and provide testimony regarding the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
“The Oversight Committee is investigating the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump. The Oversight Committee is subpoenaing you, Director of Secret Service, to appear for a public hearing on July 22, 2024, titled ‘Oversight of the U.S. Secret Service and the Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump,’” Comer wrote to Cheatle in a letter:
“The assassination attempt of the former President and current Republican nominee for president represents a total failure of the agency’s core mission and demands Congressional oversight. Despite allowing you to speak with the media, both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secret Service have failed to provide assurances regarding your appearance at the Oversight Committee’s scheduled hearing, thereby necessitating the attached subpoena.
“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.”
Upon the revelation of the security lapses related to the assassination attempt, Cheatle has been urged to step down from her role, a request she has declined.
