A group of Republican lawmakers confronted Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at the Republican National Convention for her reported refusal to answer their questions on a conference call regarding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wy.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and James Lankford (R-Ok.) learned that Director Cheatle was present at the convention and sought her out in an effort to demand answers.
Cheatle is heard in a video posted to X by Sen. Blackburn appearing to imply that she was there to attend an event celebrating those responsible for securing the convention.
A source familiar with the matter has since told the media, however, that she was at forum to have a private, in-person meeting with former President Trump to discuss the attempted assassination.
According to Fox News Correspondent Chad Pergram, Cheatle went to Milwaukee to make a “courtesy connection” with the Secret Service concerning the failed assassination.
1) Here’s How the Confrontation Between Cheatle and Senators Went Down In Milwaukee
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 18, 2024
Fox is told that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle flew to the convention in Milwaukee to make a “courtesy connection” with the Secret Service on the ground there after the assassination…
“Resignation or full explanation to us right now,” Sen. Barrasso is heard telling Cheatle in the video.
“Why would anyone allow the president to go onstage when you know you’ve got a potential threat?” asked Blackburn.
After a few minutes of unanswered questioning from Barrasso and Blackburn, Cheatle says that she would be “happy to answer questions,” but that “this is not the venue” and she would “do it in an appropriate format.”
Immediately after this, Cheatle attempted to evade the senators by making a quick exit, but the lawmakers followed her throughout the convention center, continuing to throw questions at her as they walked.
“We’re coming with you then,” said Barrasso.
“This was an assassination attempt. You owe the people answers. You owe President Trump answers,” Blackburn told Cheatle.
“You answer to us,” said Sen. Cramer.
Cheatle appeared to remain silent as they moved through the convention center.
The video ends when Cheatle and her security detail pass through a doorway, blocking the senators from continuing their pursuit.
“She can run but she cannot hide,” Blackburn said in a statement to USA Today. “She is a failed leader and she needs to immediately step down from her position.”
“Every one of us who were there with her last night had tried to ask questions,” Barrasso said in a statement to Pergram of Fox News, “and they were told, oh, there are no more questions. We were furious by that. They cut off the call. It was a filibuster.”
B) Barrasso: She agreed to take questions from us on a call yesterday with 100 U.S. senators, Republicans and Democrats. And the bottom line is she didn't take questions. She didn't answer questions. Every one of us who were there with her last night had tried to ask questions,…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 18, 2024
“She deeply respects members of Congress,” the Secret Service said in a statement shared with USA Today, “and is fiercely committed to transparency in leading the Secret Service through the internal investigation and strengthening the agency through lessons learned in these important internal and external reviews.”
Cheatle is expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee next Monday to answer questions concerning the attempted assassination following the issuance of a subpoena earlier this week.
[RELATED: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Subpoenaed to Testify Before House Oversight Committee]
She has also been asked to appear before the House Homeland Security Committee to provide testimony at their hearing scheduled for next Tuesday.
Watch the Full Video of the Senators’ Confrontation of Director Cheatle:
🚨FULL VIDEO: Secret Service Director REFUSES to answer to the American people. pic.twitter.com/MPVOke5zhY
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) July 18, 2024
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="29436 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=29436">2 Comments
This bimbette was a D.E.I. hiring which translates into ‘DIDN’T EARN IT’ and now all the world can see that.
Mayorkas announces a “bipartisan, independent investigation” of the assassination attempt. If Mayorkas selects luminaries like Janet Napolitano it’s a no-brainer. This investigation, like the January 6th show trial are not bipartisan or independent if the opposing political party selects the participants.