Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday over the agency’s failure to prevent an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, according to two people familiar with the move.
Cheatle, who initially sought to save his job and described himself Monday as the best person to lead the agency despite admitted mistakes under his watch, disclosed his decision in an internal message to Secret Service employees. An agency spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
His announcement comes after a grueling hearing Monday before the House Oversight Committee that saw bipartisan condemnation of his performance and frustration over his failure to answer basic questions about how a shooter was not stopped before he fired multiple shots at Trump, wounding him and killing a bystander at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. Democrats and Republicans alike called for his resignation afterward.
“It’s about time,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said moments after hearing the news. “He should have done it at least a week ago. I’m glad to see that.”
Johnson said the bipartisan task force the House announced earlier Tuesday to investigate the assassination attempt will continue.
