On Monday, Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced that he has submitted an impeachment resolution against Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. The resolution was filed due to her alleged “dereliction of duty” in not adequately protecting former President Trump from a potential assassin at his recent rally.
In a press release, Steube criticized the Secret Service for handling the situation in Butler, Pennsylvania. He referred to them as “one of the most elite law enforcement agencies in the world,” but deemed the incident as an “international embarrassment” and a “tragedy” that cannot be excused.
“I am utilizing our Congressional authority of oversight by submitting an impeachment article against Director Cheatle for her negligence of duty in connection to the assassination attempt on President Trump ,” he declared.
According to reports, the Secret Service had received alerts about suspicious activity before the shooting incident, as Steube highlighted. When a bullet grazed Trump’s ear during the incident, the Secret Service agents immediately escorted him off stage. Tragically, one of the rallygoers, Corey Comperatore, lost his life while shielding his family from the gunfire, and two others suffered serious injuries.
As the investigation into the attack continues, concerns have grown over how an individual armed with a weapon could gain access to a building located a mere 130 yards away from the rally stage, with an unobstructed view of the former president.
He stated that the Director and every supervisor in the chain of command should be terminated without delay. The failure of the Secret Service to safeguard President Trump resulted in the death of an American hero and severe injuries to several others. He emphasized that everyone in the chain of command, including the Director, should be accountable for their actions.
The resolution introduced by Steube consists of a single impeachment article that accuses the individual in question of failing to perform their duty.
As per the article, Cheatle, who was the director, was accused of being negligent in fulfilling the agency’s mission and statutory obligation to ensure the safety and security of protectees, key locations, and events of national significance. It was also highlighted that the Secret Service is responsible for providing protection to former Presidents and major Presidential candidates.
According to the impeachment resolution, Cheatle has been criticized for prioritizing an increase in the number of female agents. The aim is to have 30 percent of all recruits be women by 2030. The article implies that Cheatle has put more focus on gender than on whether the recruits are suitable for the job.
The resolution has concluded that Director Cheatle has exhibited negligence in her duty to lead the Secret Service in a way that ensures efficient protection of protectees, particularly President Donald Trump. As a result, she is deemed to have acted in a manner that warrants her impeachment, trial, removal from office, and disqualification from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.
Amid mounting calls for his resignation, Cheatle has finally issued a resolution. However, the resolution has come under scrutiny, particularly following Cheatle’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee, where he failed to provide satisfactory answers to some of the lawmakers’ pressing questions about the shooting.
After the hearing, Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made an uncommon move by sending a joint letter that demanded her resignation.
In his press release, Steube stated that they have no other option but to impeach Director Cheatle, especially after her disappointing testimony before the Oversight Committee. He expressed his frustration that she failed to answer most of the questions and even refused to resign from her position.
We have contacted the U.S. Secret Service for their response, as per our efforts to gather more information on the matter.