The Republican National Convention (RNC) saw Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) publicly challenge Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle over the agency’s failure to protect former President Trump from an assassination attempt last week. In a video later released online, Blackburn and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) questioned Cheatle about the security lapses that allowed the would-be assassin to get close to Trump despite having been flagged as suspicious by the Secret Service up to an hour before the attack occurred.
During her speech at the RNC, Blackburn repeatedly asked Cheatle why the Secret Service had permitted Trump to go on stage even after a suspicious person had been identified and raised concerns. Cheatle responded that it was not the appropriate time for such discussions, emphasizing her desire to focus on those working to ensure the convention’s security. Despite her evasion, Blackburn and other lawmakers continued to demand answers from the embattled director.
The incident has raised questions about the Secret Service’s competence in fulfilling its crucial duty of protecting the president. In two closed briefings held for House and Senate lawmakers on Wednesday, members of law enforcement, including the Secret Service, provided limited new information regarding the security measures that failed to prevent the attack at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania last Saturday. Wyoming Senator John Barrasso revealed that the Secret Service had spotted the assailant an hour before the shooting began but lost track of him in the crowd, leading to the assassination attempt.
Following her confrontation with Cheatle, Blackburn called for her resignation and expressed her disappointment with the agency’s handling of the situation, stating that “the American people deserve answers from the Secret Service.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has also publicly supported Blackburn’s call for Cheatle to step down.
In an interview with Breitbart News, Marsha Blackburn discussed her efforts to help former President Donald Trump get reelected. This incident at the RNC highlights the ongoing concerns about the Secret Service’s ability to effectively protect the president and its commitment to transparency in the face of such a high-profile failure.