Rep. James Comer interrogated Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle during a Congressional hearing regarding the agency’s security failures in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
The focus of the hearing was on the reasons behind the lack of critical security protocols, such as positioning an agent on the shooter’s building rooftop.
Comer started by highlighting the Secret Service’s substantial resources. “The annual budget of around $3.1 billion and, I believe, around 8,000 employees. Is that correct?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir,” Cheatle confirmed.
“Obviously, there were many security failures on the day of the attempted assassination and leading up to that day. Let’s start with the building that the shooter used to shoot President Trump from. At any point Saturday, did the Secret Service have an agent on top of that roof?” Comer inquired.
Cheatle responded, “Sir, I’m sure, as you can imagine, that we are just nine days out from this incident, and there’s still an ongoing investigation, and so I want to make sure that any information that we are providing is accurate.”
“So you can’t. Okay. Why did the Secret Service not place a single agent on the roof?” Comer pressed.
“We are still looking into the advanced process and the decisions that were made,” Cheatle replied.
“Okay, okay, wasn’t that building within the perimeter that should be secured? Do we agree with that?” Comer asked.
“The building was outside of the perimeter on the day of the visit. But again, that is one of the things that during the investigation, we want to take a look at and determine whether or not other decisions should have been made,” Cheatle explained.
Comer followed up with concerns about the roof’s slope and its impact on security decisions. “One of the things that you said, I believe in an interview, that there wasn’t an agent on the roof because it was a sloped roof, is that normal? And do you fear that that immediately creates an opportunity for future would-be assassins to look for a slanted roof? I mean it. This is a huge question that every American has. Why wasn’t a Secret Service agent on the roof? And there have been reports that agents were supposed to be on the roof, but it was hot that day and they didn’t want to be on the roof. Can you answer any of those questions, Director?”
“I appreciate you asking me that question. Chairman, I should have been more clear in my answer when I spoke about where we placed personnel in that interview. What I can tell you is that there was a plan in place to provide Overwatch, and we are still looking into responsibilities and who was going to provide Overwatch, but the Secret Service in general, not speaking specifically to this incident, when we are providing Overwatch, whether that be through counter snipers or other technology, prefer to have sterile rooftops,” Cheatle clarified.
Comer also inquired about the use of drones for surveillance. “Did the Secret Service use any drones for surveillance that day?”
“So, again, I’m not going to get into specifics of that day in itself, but there are times during a security plan that the Secret Service does deploy an asset, like that,” Cheatle responded.
“There were reports that the shooter used a drone just a few hours before the rally start time. Is that accurate?” Comer asked.
“I have heard those same reports and, again, am waiting for the final report,” Cheatle replied.
“Do you know, if you can’t answer the question, that’s your answer. But can you answer this? Do you know? Do you know, I’m not asking yes or no, but do you know if the shooter used a drone before the shooting?” Comer pressed.
“That information has been passed to us from the FBI,” Cheatle confirmed.
Comer questioned the number and assignment of Secret Service agents on the day of the rally. “How many Secret Service agents were assigned to President Trump on the day of the rally?”
“Again, I’m 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,” Cheatle stated.
“There 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?” Comer asked.
“What 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,” Cheatle responded.
“How many temporary agents were there that day?” Comer inquired.
“Quite frequently, sir, during campaign events, the Secret Service utilizes agents from HSI or the Department of Homeland Security,” Cheatle explained.
Comer pressed on the thoroughness of the investigation. “Have the investigators reconstructed the shooter’s precise movements over the past days, weeks, and months? We need to have confidence that if the FBI is leading this investigation, that they’re leading a credible investigation, because there’s some of us sitting up here today that don’t have a lot of confidence in the FBI. So I will repeat the question, have the investigators reconstructed the shooter’s precise moments over the past days, weeks, and months?”
“I understand your question, Chairman, and I share your concerns about wanting to make sure that we have factual information. The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation. The Secret Service is conducting an internal investigation. There are a number of OIG investigations, and there is the external investigation,” Cheatle replied.
Comer concluded with a question about resource requests. “Last question for me before July 13, had the Trump detail requested additional resources?”
“What I can tell you is that for the event on July 13, the details that were, the assets that were requested for that day were given,” Cheatle affirmed.
WATCH:
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2 Comments
That DEI hire was worthless.
Obviously, a total incompetent, typical of all of braindead Biden’s appointees. Her refusal to resign is an insult to all Americans. If she is cowardly enough not to resign, then FIRE her NOW!!