(The Center Square) – House Republicans kept the pressure on the U.S. Secret Service and the Biden administration Tuesday as the agency’s director resigned.
U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York slammed Kimberly Cheatle’s response to questioning over security failures at the recent assassination attempt against Former President Donald Trump.
“The U.S. Secret Service has a zero fail mission and they failed massively to protect President Trump and rally goers on July 13,” Langworthy said at a news conference that started just before Cheatle’s resignation was announced.
“There must be accountability from the U.S. Secret Service for this tragedy,” Langworthy added.
“But we got nothing out of Kim Cheatle yesterday,” Langworthy said. “All she did was stonewall and hide behind an FBI investigation that won’t be complete for 60 days. It is clear that we have gross incompetence from the Secret Service.”
At the same news conference, U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer said, “no matter what your politics, we can all agree that what happened on July 13 was a complete security failure.”
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., turned his attention to Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden exited the race on Sunday.
“She’s still the sitting Vice President, but she has also been the architect of many of President Biden’s worst failures,” Scalise said. “Not the least of which is her main responsibility that she has been given in 3 and 1/2 years, that is the job of border czar.”
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a bipartisan task force being established to get answers and accountability for the resulting events of the violent Trump rally shooting.
The Republicans also slammed Harris for not meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is on a trip visiting Washington and set to address Congress on Wednesday.
“We have to be clear that Israel is not alone,” Johnson said. “It has never been more important than it is right now for us to stand with our closest ally in the Middle East and our traditional partner in all these things. And it is outrageous to me and inexcusable that as the leader mentioned, that Kamala Harris is boycotting this joint session. This is an historic moment, it is an important moment for the country for all of the reasons we have said. The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated and yet, Kamala Harris will abandon her seat.”
One reporter asked Johnson for his reaction to Cheatle stepping down as the news of her resignation broke during the conference.
“Our reaction, the immediate reaction to her resignation is that it is overdue,” Johnson said. “She should have done this at least a week ago. I am happy to see that. I am happy to see that she has heeded the call of both Republicans and Democrats. Now we have to pick up the pieces, we have to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service as an agency. It has an incredibly important responsibility in protecting presidents, former presidents, and other officials in the executive branch.”
