A Republican called Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle a “DEI horror show” after she came under bipartisan attacks Monday during a Capitol Hill hearing.
During questioning by lawmakers, Cheatle offered few direct answers and often hid behind the ongoing internal Secret Service investigation. She remained dogged amid calls for her resignation from both Republicans and Democrats.
“Ma’am, you are a DEI horror story,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told Cheatle at one point.
“I’ve told my daughter many times, my wife and my daughter talk to her all the time about how she’s going to be successful in life. She’s going to be successful in life if she achieves her goals,” he continued. “Ma’am, you haven’t accomplished anything today. You’ve let the American people down. If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be here anymore.”
A Republican has called Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle a “DEI horror show” after she came under bipartisan attacks Monday during a hearing on Capitol Hill.
Democrats immediately criticized the attack on diversity, equity and inclusion measures.
“The July 13 incident has nothing to do with DEI,” Cheatle said afterward under questioning from Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas.
Crockett suggested the shooter had not been deemed suspicious enough to stop Trump’s rally because he was a white man.
“As a civil rights attorney, I have learned many times how to deal with the police,” she said.
“There’s usually no threat perception if it’s a young white man, even if he’s carrying a long gun,” Crockett continued.
‘A lot of times, at least in this country, when it comes to law enforcement, there’s a perceived threat simply because someone has a little bit more melanin in their skin.’
“Republicans are arguing that hiring women and people of color hampered the response to the shooting,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., “to belittle the contributions of women and people of color, and it’s shameful.”
He accused Republicans of using the DEI to “ignore gun safety measures.”
“Women have been an integral part of the agency since 1971,” Pressley continued. “Scapegoating them is shameful and dangerously divisive.”
At another point, Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., alluded to the DEI when he asked whether Cheatle considered the agents’ height when deciding whether to include them on the former president’s team.
Noting that the agents know the basics of their protégé, Perry asked Cheatle if she knew how tall Donald Trump is. She replied that he is “over six feet tall.”
“So, don’t you think there should be agents who could help him if necessary?” Perry continued.
At one point, an angry Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) asked Cheatle a series of questions that she avoided answering.
“He’s not doing well, as (Democratic Rep. Jared) Moskowitz informed him,” Greene said. “He’s been sitting here for over three hours, the entire nation is demanding that he resign. Things are not going well for him, he needs to answer questions.”
“Was there a restraining order, Ms. Cheatle? Was there a conspiracy to kill President Trump?” Greene continued.
“Ma’am, you are a DEI horror story,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told Cheatle at one point.
‘Absolutely not.’
Greene then asked for the TikTok of the day of the moments leading up to the shooting.
“Do you have a timeline?” Greene asked.
“I have a timeline, but I don’t have the details,” Cheatle said, to laughter from spectators in the courtroom.
“I’ve told my daughter many times, my wife and my daughter talk to her all the time about how she’s going to be successful in life. She’s going to be successful in life if she achieves her goals,” he continued. “Ma’am, you haven’t accomplished anything today. You’ve let the American people down. If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be here anymore.”
Cheatle could not answer the number of officers on the ground, how the shooter got onto the roof, how many shots were fired, how many shell casings were recovered, the shooter’s motive and other questions from lawmakers.
He could not tell lawmakers how many times there were security breaches involving Secret Service protectees or provide a timeline of the day of the shooting and when the Secret Service was informed of the threat.
“I am completely disgusted by your performance today,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., told Cheatle as she suggested the director had committed perjury before the committee.
Luna said he would submit Cheatle’s testimony for review on perjury charges.
