Secret Service chief to Congress: 'We failed'

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, in her first testimony before Congress since the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, told lawmakers her agency failed in its primary job: to protect the nation's leaders.

Cheatle was subpoenaed to appear before the House Oversight Committee following the shooting at Trump’s western Pennsylvania rally. It is the first time in her 29-year Secret Service career that she has been called testify before Congress.

“The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13th, we failed,” Cheatle said. “As the Director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse.”

Cheatle told lawmakers the agency is fully cooperating with the FBI’s investigation, congressional oversight and conducting its own internal review. However, she was unable to answer most direct questions about the findings of her investigators, citing the ongoing nature of their work.

“We must learn what happened and I will move heaven and earth to ensure an incident like July 13th does not happen again,” Cheatle said.

The appearance is expected to be high-stakes moment for her future in the role, and the agency.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., joined other Republican leaders in calling for Cheatle to resign.

“This tragedy was preventable. The Secret Service has a zero fail mission, but it failed on July 13 and in the days leading up to the rally,” Comer said. “The Secret Service has thousands of employees and a significant budget, but it has now become the face of incompetence. ”

Comer added that Americans have not gotten answers they need, and someone should be fired for the “historic failure.”

“It is my