A security breach at a Pennsylvania rally has placed Secret Service head Kimberly Cheatle at the center of heated debate.
Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when a gunman from a nearby building targeted him, reported Mail Online.
During the event in Butler, Pennsylvania, 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired from a warehouse roof, critically injuring others and grazing Trump's ear.
The crisis highlighted a significant lapse by the Secret Service, which failed to secure the building despite marking Crooks as suspicious beforehand.
Kimberly Cheatle explained why agents were not stationed on the warehouse roof, stating, "That building has a sloped roof at its highest point, and we wouldn't want to put somebody up on a sloped roof due to safety concerns."
Admitting to the oversight and taking full responsibility, Cheatle described the incident as "unacceptable" and a situation that "shouldn't happen again." Despite backlash, she has resisted calls for her resignation.
Cheatle further justified the security measures, noting the chaotic and rapid unfolding of the event. Witnesses alerted the Secret Service and local police as Crooks ascended to the rooftop, but the response window was too tight to prevent the shots from being fired.
The incident sparked swift reactions. Representative Tim Burchett criticized Cheatle's background and the selection process for key security positions, noting, "She was working at Pepsi before this. This is what happens when you don't put the best players in."
President Joe Biden expressed mixed feelings. He praised the bravery and immediate response of the Secret Service agents but emphasized the need to reevaluate their preemptive security measures.
During the event in Butler, Pennsylvania, 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired from a warehouse roof, critically injuring others and grazing Trump's ear.
The crisis highlighted a significant lapse by the Secret Service, which failed to secure the building despite Crooks being marked as suspicious beforehand.
