The director of the Secret Service says the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was the “most significant operational failure” in decades.
Ms Cheatle told the House of Representatives Oversight and Accountability Committee she took “full responsibility for any security lapse”.
The shooting at an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounded Trump’s right ear, killed one audience member and injured another on 13 July.
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Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old nursing home aide suspected of the shooting, was killed by law enforcement.
The fact the suspect was able to get within range of Trump on the rooftop of a nearby building has angered lawmakers who blame security lapses in the Secret Service.
Members of the public had pointed out a suspect to law enforcement before the shooting.
The House Judiciary Committee claims it has evidence the agency was not properly resourced for Trump’s rally because of staffing shortages created by a rival event in the same state and a NATO summit days before in Washington.
But so far, Ms Cheatle has defied calls for her departure.
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Image: Kimberly Cheatle. Pic: Reuters
“Continuity of operations is paramount during a critical incident and US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has no intentions to step down,” said spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi.
“She deeply respects members of Congress and is fiercely committed to transparency in leading the Secret Service through the internal investigation and strengthening the agency through lessons learned in these important internal and external reviews.”
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