Secret Service Director Faces Hearing, Warned Over “Stonewalling”
A Republican member of the House Oversight Committee who is scheduled to question U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Monday has made statements regarding the Department of Homeland Security.
She claims that they will experience a “rude awakening” if they continue to “stonewall” in relation to failures in the lead-up to the attempted assassination of former President Trump.
Hearing Obligation
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., over the weekend, told Fox News Digital, the bureaucracy cannot be allowed to ignore their obligation to explain themselves to the American people when the hearing begins.
![Rep Anna Paulina Luna standing with two other people posing for a photo](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/e1382353-gqn4wxgwkaa5z0z.jpg)
X user RepLuna
“I am looking forward to hearing from Director Cheatle this Monday and getting answers for the American people on the Secret Service’s failure to take action that would have prevented the attempt on President Trump’s life,” Luna stated.
“Full Transparency”
She continued to state: “I also would like to get answers on why Mayorkas’ DHS tried to pull blatant bureaucratic stonewalling on us.”
![Rep Anna Paulina Luna in a probation officer uniform standing in a crowd of officers](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/eb629e0a-gqcxhknwuaapd6_.jpg)
X user RepLuna
“They are not getting away with it, and we expect their full transparency.”
Mayorkas Scrutiny
The head of Homeland Security, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, is currently under intense scrutiny regarding the issues at the Mexican borde.
![US President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media while visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, right, In Washington, DC.](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/61b83700-dhs_secretary_alejandro_mayorkas_joins_us_president_joe_biden_at_fema_headquarters_53155359997.jpg)
Flickr user USDHS
This comes alongside the issues within the Secret Service, both of which are under his control.
Cheatle Questioning
Luna went on to say, “They will get a rude awakening if they keep trying to block information from Congress and the American people.”
![Kimberly Cheatle, Assistant Director of the Secret Service Office of Protective Operations](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/cea0a060-gsucevrwaaabrpw-e1721650141565.jpg)
USDHS
When Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., spotted Cheatle at the Republican National Convention, she confronted the director over the matter.
Looking for Answers
Blackburn yelled at Cheatle, “This was an assassination attempt, you owe the people answers, you owe President Trump answers.”
![Senator Blackburn met with Bill Barr, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Attorney General.](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/75cfca4c-william_barr_and_marsha_blackburn.jpg)
Office of Senator Marsha Blackburn
This occurred as Senate Republican Conference Committee Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo. called out, “Stonewalling!”
Oversight Committee
Recently, Mayorkas said he had “100 percent certainty” in Cheatle and her organization, while conservatives like Luna were confounded at the claim.
![Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with Lee Sang-min, Republic of Korea Minister of the Interior and Safety, at DHS Headquarters in Washington, DC.](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/356e58a8-department_of_homeland_security_dhs_secretary_alejandro_mayorkas_met_with_lee_sang-min_republic_of_korea_minister_of_the_interior_and_safety_in_washington_d.c._on_16_november_2023_-_30.jpg)
Flickr user DHSgov
According to a post on X by the Oversight Committee, Americans are demanding to know how a 20-year-old dietary assistant from a Pittsburgh suburb was able to scale a nearby building and almost kill Trump.
Narrow Miss
By turning his head at the right time to see a graphic that he said showed President Biden’s failures on border security, Trump narrowly avoided death.
![Anthony Guglielmi accepting an award on stage beside three other people](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/a626b421-fbhjsbkxgae6leh.jpg)
X user AJGuglielmi
CBS News reported on Friday that Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said his agency is “committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after” Thomas Crooks’ attempt to assassinate Trump in order “to ensure it never happens again.”
Issuing Subpoena
Fox News was informed by a spokesperson for the Oversight Committee, which is chaired by Republican James Comer of Kentucky regarding the issuance of a subpoena.
![Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner James Comer speaks to Soldiers of the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade at the Hidden Valley Training Site in Powell County, Ky., Sept. 15, 2013.](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/7139f093-james_comer_kentucky_national_guard.jpg)
Flickr user Kentuckyguard
This was issued for Cheatle in order to stop DHS from “backtracking” on its agreement to have her appear before their panel.
Rare Joint Statement
Friday, Comer and Democratic ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland issued a rare joint statement.
![Jamie Raskin Press Conference on Death Penalty Repeal Passage](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/ebec2a45-press_conference_on_death_penalty_repeal_passage_8568801204.jpg)
Flickr user Maryland GovPics
They stated that Crooks’ attack was a “grave assault on democracy” and that “political violence of any kind has no place in our great country.”
Upcoming Hearing
Of the upcoming hearing they stated: “Our Founders envisioned robust and spirited political debate in our nation, and we see that debate often in our Committee room.”
![Jamie Raskin speaking at the 2020 AFGE Legislative Conference](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/db3fc356-1280px-2020_afge_legislative_conference_-_sunday_49521000448-1.jpg)
Flickr user AFGE
“While we often have passionate disagreements about policies and investigative priorities, we are united in condemning all political violence and ensuring that America will prevent such a horrific event from ever happening again.”
“Historic Security Failures”
It continued to state: “Americans have many serious questions about the historic security failures that occurred at the campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.”
![Jamie Raskin campaigning for Elizabeth Warren](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/2cd097a6-warren4raskin_0582_31206074592.jpg)
Flickr user Edward Kimmel
“Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle must appear before the House Oversight Committee without delay on Monday, July 22 to answer our many questions and provide the transparency and accountability that Americans deserve and that are at the foundation of our government.”
Cheatle will face questions regarding the efficacy of the Secret Service in what will surely be a heated hearing.