On July 13, 2024, a gunman fired on Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and wounding two others. Nine days later the Director of the Secret Service appeared under subpoena before the House Oversight Committee. She began by conceding the point.
The admission
CheatleGood morning Chairman Comer, Ranking Member Raskin, and distinguished members of the Committee. My name is Kimberly Cheatle, and I am the Director of the United States Secret Service. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today.
CheatleThe assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13 is the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades. And I am keeping him and his family in my thoughts.
CheatleI would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief and a hero, who was killed in this senseless shooting.
[Hearing transcript, July 22, 2024, opening statement of Director Cheatle.]
How many agents
Chairman Comer opened with a number, and did not get one.
ComerHow many Secret Service agents were assigned to President Trump on the day of the rally?
CheatleAgain, I am not going to get into the specifics of the numbers of personnel that we had there, but we feel that there was a sufficient number of agents assigned.
ComerThere are reports that several agents assigned to the rally on July 13 were temporary agents, agents not normally assigned to President Trump. Is that accurate?
CheatleWhat I can tell you is that the agents that were assigned to former President Trump are Secret Service agents that provide close protection to him, and that was what was actual on that day.
ComerHow many temporary agents were there that day?
CheatleQuite frequently, sir, during campaign events, the Secret Service utilizes agents from HSI or the Department of Homeland Security----
ComerBut you do not know how many?
CheatleTo supplement----
ComerOr you cannot answer it?
CheatleOur plan.
[Hearing transcript, July 22, 2024, questioning by Chairman Comer.]
How many times you said no
The Secret Service had first called reports of denied requests unequivocally false, then acknowledged that some requests were turned down. Representative Jordan wanted the count.
JordanHow many times did you turn them down ahead of that?
CheatleI think that it is important to distinguish between what some people may view as a denial of an asset or a request and not----
JordanWell, is Mr. Guglielmi your spokesperson? He said--he acknowledged the Secret Service had turned down some requests. I am asking how many?
CheatleA denial of a request does not equal a vulnerability.
JordanWell, tell me what it is.
CheatleThere are a number of ways that threats and risks can be mitigated with a number of different assets, whether that be through personnel, whether that be through technology or other resources.
JordanWell, tell the Committee which it was. They asked for additional help in some form or another. You told them no. How many times did you tell them no, and what did you tell them no to?
CheatleAgain, I cannot speak to specific incidents, but I can tell you, in general terms, the Secret Service is judicious with their resources based on----
JordanWhat does "some requests" mean? How many times? "Some" indicates--"requests" is plural, so more than once they asked for additional help, and you turned them down. What did they ask for, and how many times did you turn them down? Pretty basic questions.
CheatleSo, again, without having all of the details in front of me, sir, what I can tell you is that there are times----
JordanYou did not get briefed on how many times you turned down the Trump detail when they asked for additional help?
CheatleI am sorry----
JordanYou did not get briefed on that before you came to this hearing, knowing you were going to get asked that question?
CheatleWhat I can tell you is that, in generic terms, when people--when details make a request, there are times that there are alternate ways to cover off on that threat or that risk.
JordanBut that is not what he said. He said they were denied certain requests--some requests.
JordanThis is your spokesperson, not me, talking. This is the Secret Service talking.
JordanAnd what a change, from "absolutely false," "unequivocally false," to, "oh, by the way, there were some times where we did not give them what they wanted." That is a huge change in 5 days.
JordanAnd the fact that you cannot answer how many times you did that, that is pretty darn frustrating, not just for me but for the country.
CheatleI hear your frustration----
[Hearing transcript, July 22, 2024, questioning by Rep. Jordan.]