Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle declined to respond to inquiries at the Republican National Convention regarding the unsuccessful attempt on Donald Trump’s life.
Concerns are mounting as more information emerges about what the Secret Service knew and how they handled it before a lone gunman attacked Trump at a campaign rally.
Law enforcement had identified the shooter as suspicious an hour before the incident, and despite a Secret Service counter-sniper team spotting the gunman 20 minutes prior to the shooting, Trump was still permitted to take the stage.
It remains unknown how the 20-year-old gunman managed to elude the Secret Service.
At the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Republican senators made efforts on Wednesday to obtain answers from Cheatle, who is ultimately responsible for Secret Service operations.
A group of Republican senators confronted Cheatle, expressing frustration after she reportedly allowed only four questions at a Senate briefing earlier in the day.
“Resignation or full explanation to us right now!” Barrasso told Cheatle.
“Why would anyone allow [Trump] to go on stage when you know you’ve got a potential threat?” Blackburn grilled.
Cheatle, however, refused to answer the questions.
“I don’t think this is the forum for this conversation,” she told the lawmakers.
The director claimed she is “happy” to answer their questions, but she answered none of them.
She then tried to walk away, which angered the lawmakers.
They quickly followed her and continued to grill her.
“This is exactly what you were doing today!” Barrasso screamed. “It’s called stonewalling!”
“This was an assassination attempt! You owe the people answers! You owe President Trump answers!” Blackburn said.
Cheatle has admitted the Secret Service “failed” its “no-fail mission” of protecting Trump, but she has thus far remained defiant.
In a statement released after the tense confrontation with the senators, the Secret Service reaffirmed that Cheatle “has no intentions to step down.”
But that’s not good enough, according to Blackburn.
“It is appalling that the Secret Service director refused to answer our questions. This is one of the greatest security failures in the history of the agency. She can run, but she cannot hide,” the Tennessee Republican said in a statement shared with Blaze News.
“She is a failed leader, and she needs to immediately step down from her position,” Blackburn added.
WATCH:
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2 Comments
We have seen her COWARDICE and heard her LIES. Only three words are appropriate — LOCK HER UP!!
It’s way past time to get rid of the ‘WOKE’ nonsense that swept America & return to the time that the most QUALIFIED person gets the position.