The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify about her agency’s alleged failure in preventing the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. This incident occurred during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a would-be assassin managed to shoot at Trump from a distance of around 500 feet, narrowly missing him and killing one person while wounding two others. The FBI has identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks but has not yet disclosed his motive.
The Secret Service initially confirmed that Cheatle would appear before the House Oversight Committee; however, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reportedly forbade her from testifying. In response to this decision, committee chairman James Comer sent a letter to Cheatle stating that her lack of transparency and refusal to cooperate raises concerns about her ability to lead the Secret Service and necessitates the attached subpoena compelling her appearance at the hearing next Monday.
Much remains unclear regarding the events leading up to the shooting, and Republican pundits have accused the Secret Service of negligence in the crucial moments before shots were fired. Despite having a clear line of sight to the stage from which Crooks fired, no agents were positioned at this location. Local police officers stationed nearby reportedly observed Crooks circling the area before returning and looking at the stage through a range-finder but did not share their observations with the Secret Service.
Video footage captured by spectators at the rally allegedly shows Secret Service snipers pointing their weapons at Crooks but hesitating to open fire until he fired first. In numerous television interviews since the incident, Cheatle has defended her agency’s actions, citing concerns about placing agents on sloped roofs. However, her refusal to testify before Congress has led to further scrutiny and skepticism regarding the Secret Service’s handling of this attempted assassination attempt.