U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned amid growing demands from lawmakers for her departure after the attempted assassination of President Trump on July 13, according to three sources who spoke to NBC News.
An official public announcement on her resignation is expected later this morning, two law enforcement sources said. Deputy Director of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, will temporarily serve as the agency's leader.
In her resignation letter, obtained from a senior official who received it, Cheatle wrote that the “scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases.” She added she takes “full responsibility for the security lapse.”
“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director,” she wrote.
Cheatle’s resignation comes a day after she faced questions from angry lawmakers from both parties who were exasperated over the Secret Service’s failure to protect Trump.
“I’m not going to get into specifics of the day,” Cheatle testified, citing an ongoing investigation. “There was a plan in place to provide overwatch, and we are still looking into responsibilities.”
Both Democratic and Republican committee members said she should resign over her “incompetence” and her “lame excuses.”
