US Secret Service chief set for grilling by Congress over Trump shooting

22/7/2024 19:25

        U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will undergo a grilling on Monday at a congressional hearing into her agency's failure to prevent a would-be assassin from wounding Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump earlier this month.
        
        Cheatle is due to appear before the House of Representatives Oversight and Accountability Committee at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) to be questioned by lawmakers. The Secret Service chief faces calls for her resignation from top Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
        
        On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray will appear before the House Judiciary Committee.
        
        The July 13 shooting at an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounded Trump in the ear, killed one rally attendee and injured another. The suspected shooter, 20-year-old nursing home aide Thomas Crooks, was killed by law enforcement
        
        The incident has angered lawmakers, who say the suspect was able to get within range of Trump on the rooftop of a nearby building because of security lapses at Cheatle's agency, which is charged with protecting presidents and former presidents.