The Questions the Secret Service Director Did Not Answer

During a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Monday, several lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, expressed frustration with Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle over the number of questions that she would not — or could not — answer.

Many times, Ms. Cheatle said she was waiting for reports to arrive to give her the requested information — nine days after the shooting. She said she was not trying to be evasive, but rather was trying to provide information that was accurate.

The following are some of the questions Ms. Cheatle was asked repeatedly that she did not answer:

Why did the Secret Service not station an agent on the warehouse roof that the gunman used as a sniper’s perch?

Ms. Cheatle was pressed repeatedly on this point. Her most detailed answer was in response to a question from Committee Chairman James Comer, Republican of Kentucky. Ms. Cheatle seemed to indicate that the Secret Service had left the rooftop unmanned on purpose, because, she said, the agency preferred “sterile” — presumably meaning empty — rooftops. Instead, she said, the warehouse rooftop was to receive “overwatch” — meaning law enforcement officers were supposed to watch that rooftop from another, higher perch.

“There was a plan in place to provide overwatch, and we are still looking into responsibilities, and who was going to provide overwatch,” Ms. Cheatle said.

How many Secret Service agents were assigned to protect President Trump in Butler, Pa.?

Ms. Cheatle declined to answer that question, or to say how many officers from other federal law enforcement agencies were on hand to supplement the Secret Service. “We feel that there was a sufficient number of agents assigned,” she told Mr. Comer.

Who decided