Presidential election 2024 LIVE — Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is hammered by lawmakers over Trump shooting
THE Secret Service's embattled chief has admitted the agency failed former President Donald Trump during an assassination attempt earlier this month.
Kimberly A. Cheatle appeared on Capitol Hill on Monday morning as she faces mounting calls to step down over the shooting.
The director was repeatedly lambasted by lawmakers for failing to answer specific questions regarding details of the Secret Service's preparation and response to the shocking shooting.
At one point, Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina began to swear at Cheatle, accusing the director of lying to the committee.
“You’re full of s**t today. You’re just being completely dishonest,” Mace said.
Cheatle told the House oversight committee that she takes "full responsibility" for the security lapses at the Trump rally on July 13 that allowed would-be assassin Thomas Crooks to open fire on the GOP nominee, grazing his ear and killing an attendee.
“The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders,” she said. “On July 13, we failed.”
The several hour-long hearing left many questions still unanswered including:
- Did Secret Service use drones before the rally?
- How did the shooter get the gun on the nearby roof?
- Why wasn't the shooter stopped when he was first spotted by rally-goers?
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Kamala Harris can now get the nomination
Vice President and newly announced presidential candidate Kamala Harris now has the support of enough delegates to formally become the Democratic party's nominee come November, according to a survey by the .
"Within the last hour, Speaker Pelosi made the motion to endorse Kamala Harris for President at a virtual meeting of California’s DNC delegation," according to Pelosi's office.
"With the endorsement of California’s delegation, Kamala Harris now has enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination for President."
Leaders will send letter calling for Cheatle’s resignation
As Monday’s hearing of the Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle concluded, leaders of the House Oversight Committee said they will send official letter calling for the director’s resignation.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders agreed that Monday’s hearing didn’t offer a solid explanation of why the Secret Service did not prevent the events of July 13.
“I don’t think we’ve answered very many questions,” the chairman of the committee, Rep. James Comer, said.
“The American people have questions; they deserve answers.
“Congress deserves answers. You were subpoenaed today to provide answers. And ma’am, you did not do that,” he continued.
Comer said he and Rep. Jamie Raskin will be “sending a letter requesting that you submit your resignation as a step towards accountability in what happened.”
Rep. Nancy Mace said Cheatle is ‘full of sh*t’
During Cheatle’s hearing, GOP representative Nancy Mace told the Secret Service director that she was “full of sh*t.”
Mace previously asked Cheatle if she had given all the audio and video recordings in her possession to the House Oversight Committee per the panel’s request, to which Cheatle said she would have to get back to her.
“You’re full of s‑‑‑ today. You’re just being completely dishonest,” Mace responded.
“These are important questions that the American people want answers to, and you’re just dodging and talking around it in generalities,” Mace said.
Why the event continued
Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle has revealed why Donald Trump’s rally continued despite the would-be assassin being spotted minutes before the former president took the stage.
Cheatle confirmed that if the Secret Service had identified a threat at the July 13 rally, they would have paused the event.
Multiple members of the House Oversight Committee pointed out that local law enforcement spotted the shooter ahead of Trump’s speech, seeing a rangefinder on the roof.
However, Cheatle noted that it remains unclear when exactly Secret Service agents at the rally were informed of the shooter.
“I’m not clear on the timeline of when the Secret Service and the counter sniper were notified,” Cheatle said.
“We are still combing through communications and when communications were passed,” she previously said in her testimony.
Pictures from the shooting
Secret Service agents immediately tackled the president once shots were firedCredit: AP 
The agents escorted bloody Trump off of the stageCredit: Getty 
Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was spotted on a rooftop only 430 ft from where the former President was speakingCredit: Pixel8000 Time between shooter being spotted and Secret Service response
Donald Trump Rally Shooting Timeline
Donald Trump was shot at during his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
1pm: Doors open at the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump was expected to speak at 5pm.
4:11pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:10pm: Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, later identified as the shooter, was first identified as a person of interest.
5:30pm: Crooks was spotted with a rangefinder.
5:30pm: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
5:52pm: Crooks was spotted on the roof by Secret Service.
6:02pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:09pm: Two sniper teams posted on buildings to the north and south behind the rally stage repositioned and were locked on Crooks.
6:12pm: Gunshots were fired toward the stage as Trump delivered remarks.
6:12pm: Secret Service returns fire, confirming the shooter is dead.
6:12pm: Trump was ushered off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42pm: Secret Service confirmed Trump is safe.
7:24pm: The shooter and one rally attendee are confirmed dead by law enforcement officials.
8:42pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49pm: The Secret Service confirms the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain critically injured.
Secret Service response following the shooting
In her opening statement, Cheatle detailed several actions the Secret Service has taken since the shooting.
“Immediately following the assassination attempt, I directed the activation of my Crisis Center and assembled my executive team to begin surging more protective resources to the former President and to ensure the wellness of our people post incident, all while securing an active crime scene,” she said.
“I immediately ordered a re-evaluation of the Republican National Convention security plan and increased the security posture in the National Capital Region for all permanent protectees and sites.
“At the same time, I initiated a mission assurance investigation within the agency.
She detailed that she has instructed her team to utilize all necessary resources to investigate the incident.
Who was the shooter at the Trump rally?
Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks?
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was identified as the would-be assassin who tried to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, during a campaign rally in Butler Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks?
- Thomas Matthew Crooks left few clues about his identity, and investigators said he did not have a social media presence.
- What is known is Crooks was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, a small suburb about 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh.
- He lived with his parents, Mary Elizabeth Crooks and Matthew Brian Crooks.
- The Crooks have been licensed professional counselors since 2002, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State Licensing System Verification service.
- Thomas Matthew Crooks attended and graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.
- In May 2024, Crooks graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County with an associate degree in engineering science, the school revealed.
- Crooks was previously employed as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
- He was a registered Republican but made a small $15 donation to a progressive political group in January 2021.
- Crooks did not have a criminal history in Pennsylvania.
How did Thomas Crooks obtain the rifle used in the shooting?
- Federal investigators believe the AR-15-style rifle Thomas Crooks used in the shooting on July 13 was legally purchased and registered to his father.
- Matthew Brian Crooks purchased the weapon at least six months before the Trump rally shooting, according to .
- It's unknown how the younger Crooks took possession of the firearm.
- The Crooks family is cooperating with federal investigators.
- Thomas Crooks also had a membership at the local shooting club, the Clairton Sportsmen's Club, for at least a year, according to .
What were Thomas Matthew Crooks' final moments?
- On July 12, federal investigators learned Thomas Crooks visited the Clairton Sportsmen's Club.
- On July 13, the day of the Trump rally in Butler, Crooks went to a Home Depot and purchased a five-foot ladder that investigators believe he used to scale a rooftop about 430 feet outside the Secret Service's perimeter.
- That same day, investigators said Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition at a gun store and drove his Hyundai Sonata an hour north to Butler.
- Crooks fired at least eight shots at Donald Trump and rally-goers at 6:11 pm, less than 10 minutes after the presidential candidate took the stage.
- A Secret Service counter-sniper positioned near the stage where Trump was delivering his remarks returned fire within seconds, killing Crooks.
What was his motive behind the shooting?
- The FBI is still working on determining a motive behind the shooting.
- The federal agency is viewing the act as domestic terrorism.
- Crooks is believed to have acted alone.
- Federal officials have been able to gain access to Crooks' cell phone, but it has yielded no clues about a motive, according to the .
- Crooks' cell phone and laptop have been sent to the FBI's lab in Quantico, Virginia, for further analysis.
What was the security like at the Trump Rally?
Donald Trump Rally Security
Donald Trump was reportedly shot at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, July 13.
Trump's rally was held at the Butler Farm Grounds, which can hold tens of thousands of people.
There were 8-10 metal detectors at the grounds, according to Former USUN Ambassador Kip Tom.
Tom told CNN that anyone within a certain distance of the president was required to enter through those metal detectors.
Despite being held at an open fairground, the rally was fenced-in, meaning a perimeter was set up.
Counter snipers from the Secret Service were stationed in the area to monitor the perimeter.
In addition to metal detectors for the public, plus local and state police, the Secret Service is assigned to protect the president.
Secret Service agents immediately jumped to cover Trump after he appeared to be shot.
"We have practiced for these situations thousands of times," Jonathan Wackrow, former agent, told CNN.
CNN also reported that the Secret Service shot and killed the reported shooter.
The FBI assumed the larger investigation of the shooting, working in tandem with the Secret Service.
Taking responsibility
Credit: EPA Amid Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle’s testimony before Congress, she admitted the agency “failed.”
She went on to take “full responsibility” for the security lapse that occurred at the Trump Pennsylvania Rally.
“On July 13th, we failed. As the Director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse,” she said in her opening statement.
“As an agency, we are fully cooperating with the FBI’s investigation, the oversight you have initiated here, and conducting our own internal mission assurance review at my direction.
“Likewise, we will cooperate with the pending external review and the DHS Office of the Inspector General.”
Later in the hearing, Cheatle admitted to Republican Representative Nancy Mace that the Secret Service’s response to the assassination attempt on Trump was a “colossal failure.”
Leaders will send letter calling for Cheatle's resignation
As Monday's hearing of the Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle concluded, leaders of the House Oversight Committee said they will send official letter calling for the director's resignation.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders agreed that Monday's hearing didn't offer a solid explanation of why the Secret Service did not prevent the events of July 13.
“I don’t think we’ve answered very many questions,” the chairman of the committee, Rep. James Comer, said.“The American people have questions; they deserve answers.
"Congress deserves answers. You were subpoenaed today to provide answers. And ma’am, you did not do that,” he continued.
Comer said he and Rep. Jamie Raskin will be "sending a letter requesting that you submit your resignation as a step towards accountability in what happened.”
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin asked for Cheatle to resign
Leading Democratic member Jamie Raskin called for the Secret Service Director to resign.
Raskin said as the hearing was coming to a close, “I think that the director has lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent [moment]."
The Maryland representative went on to ask for Cheatle's resignation.
Cheatle confirmed FBI officials claims that the shooter 'acted alone'
When asked by GOP member Anna Paulina Luna whether the Secret Service believed the shooter acted alone, Cheatle said, “At this time, we do not have that there were any other people engaged."
“So you believe he was acting alone,” the lawmaker asked.
“I do,” Cheatle responded.
This confirmation aligns with recent statements from FBI officials claiming that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man responsible for the assassination attack, acted alone.
Cheatle said the shooter was only identified as a threat 'seconds before the gun fire started'
The Secret Service Director told GOP representative Russell Fry that the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was only identified as a threat mere moments before the gunfire began.
“It’s approximately five minutes to where individuals relayed that there was an (issue) being worked at the three o’clock of the former president,” Fry said.
“But it was not phrased as a threat. It was just that something was being worked on.
“When did he transform from suspicion to threat?”
“I believe that it was seconds before the gun fire started,” Cheatle said.
Cheatle said she apologized to Donald Trump after the July 13 assassination attempt
The Secret Service Director said during her hearing that she apologized to the former President for not preventing the attack.
“Did you apologize to him directly for nearly having President Trump killed?” GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert asked.
“Yes, I did,” Cheatle replied.
“I appreciate that. I appreciate that you recognize that this was your failure,” the congresswoman said.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Cheatle a 'complete failure' and calls for her resignation
Georgia GOP representative Marjorie Taylor Greene started her line of questioning strong, asking Cheatle why the shooter wasn't considered to be a threat.
"What do you consider to be a threat? A man with a gun in a sniper position, a man with a backpack, a man with a range finder. At what point is he considered a threat?" Greene asked.
"An individual with a backpack is not a threat. An individual with a range finder is not a threat," Cheatle responded.
Greene went on to ask the Secret Service Director why members of the crowd were able to identify the man as a threat but not the Secret Service.
"People under your command did not consider him to be a threat. Yet people in the crowd knew he had a gun and considered him to be a threat. That means you are a complete failure in your job at the Secret Service," Greene said.
"I'm not certain at this time how the information from the people in the crowd was relayed to any members of law enforcement," Cheatle responded.
Greene ended her questioning asking for Cheatle to hand in her letter of resignation.
Rep. Nancy Mace said Cheatle is 'full of sh*t'
During Cheatle's hearing, GOP representative Nancy Mace told the Secret Service director that she was "full of sh*t."
Mace previously asked Cheatle if she had given all the audio and video recordings in her possession to the House Oversight Committee per the panel's request, to which Cheatle said she would have to get back to her.
“You’re full of s‑‑‑ today. You’re just being completely dishonest,” Mace responded.
“These are important questions that the American people want answers to, and you’re just dodging and talking around it in generalities,” Mace said.
Lawmaker questions the physical capability of agents
GOP member Scott Perry continued the previous line of questioning, suggesting that some Secret Service agents were selected based on DEI requirements rather than merit.
Perry asked Cheatle whether height played a role in agents being assigned to protect former President Donald Trump on the day of the shooting.
“Do you assign agents based on their ability to cover, physically, and carry, if necessary, the President of the United States, when you assign them to this mission? Is that a parameter that is considered,” Perry asked.
“I assign agents to work our protectees that are capable and have been trained,” she said.
Perry rebutted asking Cheatle, "I understand they’re trained…But if somebody’s seven feet tall and you’re five feet tall, there’s going to be a delta there that is problematic in protecting the protectant."
“The agents that are assigned to our protectees are perfectly capable,” Cheatle said.
Speaker Mike Johnson calls for Cheatle to resign
Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X calling for the Secret Service director to resign.
Johnson , "Director of Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle claims she takes 'full responsibility' for the failure to protect President Donald Trump."
"If she truly accepts responsibility for the significant security failures, she should resign."
Johnson attached a video of Cheatle taking responsibility for the events of July 13.
No visits to the shooting site
During his line of questioning Texas Representative Pat Fallon asked the Secret Service director if she had visited the site of the July 13 shooting in Bulter, Pennsylvania.
"Have you visited the site," Fallon asked.
"No, I have not," Cheatle replied.
The Republican went on to criticize Cheatle for her response saying, "Nine days and you have not visited the site. You should have been there that night."
Security cover of the roof
Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle testified before Congress on MondayCredit: EPA Throughout the hearing, Cheatle was pressed on the security coverage provided for the roof where the would-be assassin was located adjacent to the stage.
The Secret Service director explained that while a no agents were physically stationed on the roof, it was provided "overwatch."
This typically means having counter snipers at other higher points observing that roof or area.
While this security coverage was provided, Cheatle said the agency is "unaware at this time how the individual was able to access the roof."
A 'miracle' Trump survived
During the Monday hearing, Republican Representative Pat Fallon of Texas told Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle that it was a "miracle" Donald Trump was not killed in the assassination attempt.
He revealed that in the week following the July 13 shooting, he "recreated" the events of the rally in Texas.
Fallon detailed that 16 shots were fired at the same range and positioning as the would-be assassin to see how dangerous the situation was.
"You know what the result was? 15 out of 16, kill shots," Fallon said, adding that the one shot missed would have hit the president's ear in the same situation.
The Republican brought the targets used during the shooting recreation as evidence.
"It's a miracle President Trump wasn't killed," Fallon said.
"You're obfuscating today is shameful, and you should be fired immediately," he added.
Watch for President Joe Biden's reaction to the July 13 assassination attempt
Biden says 'we must unite' as he pays tribute to rally victim and launches review of national security for TrumpWhy the event continued
It remains unclear when Secret Service were exactly notified of the Pennsylvania Rally shooterCredit: AP Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle has revealed why Donald Trump's rally continued despite the would-be assassin being spotted minutes before the former president took the stage.
Cheatle confirmed that if the Secret Service had identified a threat at the July 13 rally, they would have paused the event.
Multiple members of the House Oversight Committee pointed out that local law enforcement spotted the shooter ahead of Trump's speech, seeing a rangefinder on the roof.
However, Cheatle noted that it remains unclear when exactly Secret Service agents at the rally were informed of the shooter.
"I'm not clear on the timeline of when the Secret Service and the counter sniper were notified," Cheatle said.
“We are still combing through communications and when communications were passed,” she previously said in her testimony.
Beefed up security
Cheatle confirmed during the Congressional hearing that the Secret Service has made changes to Vice President Kamala Harris' security detail.
The revelation came one day after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris to take his place on the ticket.
“Yesterday with the announcement of the president no longer running, we made adjustments to the Vice President’s detail,” Cheatle said.
She explained that the agency is prepared to provide security for the eventual vice president nominee for the Democratic party and continues "to make those assessments."
