Ronald L. Rowe Jr. has been appointed as the acting chief of the US Secret Service following the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle. Cheatle stepped down after the Secret Service faced criticism for a significant security lapse during an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Cheatle’s Resignation
Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her position as Director of the US Secret Service in the wake of a Congressional hearing. Cheatle acknowledged that the incident, involving the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, represented “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.” Cheatle’s resignation came shortly after she took responsibility for the security breach, which resulted in Trump being shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Details of the Incident
On July 13, 2024, during Trump’s rally, a 20-year-old man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, armed with an AR-style rifle, managed to get close enough to shoot and injure Trump. The gunman had positioned himself on a rooftop overlooking the rally stage. The attack resulted in one attendee’s death and serious injuries to two others. The incident has intensified scrutiny on the Secret Service’s security measures.
New Appointment
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that Ronald L. Rowe Jr., previously the Deputy Director of the Secret Service, will serve as the acting director following Cheatle’s resignation. President Joe Biden has expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s service and has called for an independent review of the security protocols to ensure such lapses do not occur again.
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