“The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases,” Cheatle said in her note to staff. Her resignation follows a tense congressional hearing where she faced harsh criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Lawmakers were frustrated with her inability to provide specific answers about the investigation and her insistence that she was still the “right person” to lead the agency.
The Investigation Continues
The investigation into the Secret Service’s handling of the situation is far from over. Congress, alongside an inspector general probe and an independent review ordered by President Joe Biden, will continue to examine the failures that allowed the assassination attempt to occur.
The agency is also reviewing its counter-sniper team’s preparedness and operations, seeking to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Former top Secret Service agents have criticized the agency’s reliance on local law enforcement to secure event perimeters, arguing that the gunman should never have been allowed access to the rooftop.
