In the wake of the assassination plot against former President Donald Trump on July 13th, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle expressed her support for an independent security review of the agency’s actions. Cheatle stated that the Secret Service is committed to cooperating with the review and is eager for the panel to examine what happened and provide recommendations to ensure that a similar incident does not occur in the future. She also mentioned that the agency is internally reviewing its actions and is committed to working with other investigations by Congress, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.
The independent review panel will consist of four individuals, including former President George W. Bush’s Homeland Security adviser Frances Townsend, former federal judge Mark Filip, former Maryland State Police superintendent David Mitchell, and former DHS secretary Janet Napolitano. The panel has been given 45 days to evaluate the policies and procedures of the Secret Service before and after the assassination attempt carried out by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas noted that additional experts may be added to the panel in the future to assist with the review.
Members of the independent review panel released a joint statement expressing their concern about the safety of public officials and their commitment to identifying improvements that the Secret Service can implement to enhance their work. The bipartisan group aims to work together to prevent future events like the one on July 13th from happening again. Cheatle is expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday to provide further information and updates on the agency’s response to the assassination attempt.
The Secret Service has a “no-fail mission” of ensuring the safety and security of its protectees, and Cheatle stated that she will take all necessary steps to ensure that the agency emerges stronger from the incident. The agency’s explanation of the events surrounding the assassination attempt continues to evolve, with additional details emerging a week later. The panel’s review will focus on understanding how the gunman was able to evade security measures and carry out the attack on former President Trump.
The Secret Service remains committed to working quickly and transparently with the various investigations into the incident, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and the need to prevent similar situations in the future. The agency’s proactive approach to cooperating with the independent review and other investigations demonstrates its dedication to improving its processes and procedures to prevent security breaches. By engaging with experts and stakeholders, the Secret Service aims to address vulnerabilities and enhance its ability to protect public officials and prevent potential threats in the future.
Overall, the independent security review of the U.S. Secret Service’s actions related to the assassination plot against former President Trump is a significant step towards understanding what went wrong and implementing necessary changes to prevent similar incidents. The bipartisan panel will play a crucial role in evaluating the agency’s policies and procedures, identifying areas for improvement, and working towards enhancing the Secret Service’s capabilities to protect public officials. Cheatle’s commitment to cooperation and transparency, along with the agency’s willingness to work with other investigations, highlights the seriousness with which the Secret Service is approaching the aftermath of the assassination attempt and its efforts to prevent such events in the future.
