In a fiery congressional hearing, Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) tore into former United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle for her agency’s failure to prevent an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump during a recent rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability had subpoenaed Cheatle to testify, and Fallon did not hold back.
Fallon wasted no time highlighting what he deemed as the sheer incompetence of the Secret Service under Cheatle’s leadership. “Your agency got outsmarted and out-maneuvered by a 20-year-old. How can we have any confidence that you could stop trained professionals from a nefarious nation-state?” Fallon questioned, underscoring the absurdity of a young man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, breaching what should be one of the most elite security forces on the planet.
Cheatle, appointed by President Biden, has faced criticism over her qualifications, with many suggesting she was selected for political reasons rather than her expertise in security. Before her current role, she was the Senior Director of Global Security at PepsiCo, a background Fallon mocked by suggesting she “go back to guarding Doritos.”
The congressman detailed the numerous security lapses during the incident. “There wasn’t a full CAT team on site. There weren’t counter-surveillance teams on site. You knew about the threat and did nothing, and that’s as telling as it is chilling. We have satellite images from the Butler Fairgrounds,” Fallon declared, painting a grim picture of negligence.
Fallon pressed Cheatle on her personal involvement, asking if she had visited the site of the attempted assassination. When Cheatle admitted she had not, Fallon was incredulous. “Nine days and you have not visited the site. Should have been there that night,” he asserted, emphasizing the lack of urgency and accountability.
He further dismantled Cheatle’s defense about the supposed danger of installing Secret Service resources on the roof where Crooks was positioned. Fallon pointed out that counter-snipers were already stationed on a nearby, steeper roof, exposing her argument as baseless. “You put your counter-snipers on a 312 roof, which is steeper than the 112, and by the way, the 112 is ADA compliant. You can build a ramp for a wheelchair on a 112 roof,” Fallon said, highlighting the absurdity of her claims.
In a dramatic demonstration, Fallon recreated the assassination attempt himself to illustrate the ease with which the attack could have succeeded. Despite having no professional marksman training and limited experience with long guns, Fallon was able to achieve a 94% success rate in a simulated shooting scenario. “I have never had any long gun training in my life. I own an AR-15. The last time I shot it was six years ago. I shot eight rounds from both, and the result was 15 out of 16 kill shots,” Fallon recounted, illustrating how Trump’s survival was nothing short of miraculous.
Fallon concluded his blistering remarks by calling for Cheatle’s resignation. “I believe your horrifying ineptitude and your lack of skilled leadership is a disgrace. Your obfuscation today is shameful. You should be fired immediately. Go back to guarding Doritos,” he stated unequivocally.
As the nation watches, the fallout from this hearing raises serious questions about the Secret Service’s readiness and the political appointments that may compromise national security. Fallon’s passionate critique underscores a broader concern about ensuring that those entrusted with protecting our leaders are chosen for their merit, not political connections.
