Secret Service Director Faces Bipartisan Calls for Resignation After 'Deplorable' Hearing on Trump Assassination Attempt

A former U.S. Marshals task force member and personal protection specialist has joined the chorus of bipartisan lawmakers demanding the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after her "deplorable" House Oversight Committee hearing on the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, this month.

Former U.S. Marshals task force member Terry Mikels has joined the growing chorus of bipartisan lawmakers calling for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle in the wake of her "deplorable" House Oversight Committee hearing on the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

Mikels, now a personal protection specialist with Executive Security Concepts, skewered Cheatle after she revealed at the hearing that she had not read a report detailing whether the advance team for the rally site had enough resources.

Secret Service Director Faces Bipartisan Calls for Resignation After 'Deplorable' Hearing on Trump Assassination Attempt

"While that may not be her actual job, for her not to be apprised of what is going on is just so negligent," Mikels told Fox News Digital.

Mikels pointed out that the opportunity of the gunman, Thomas Crooks, to scope out the venue beforehand and then successfully climb on top of a nearby roof showed "how easy it is."

Secret Service Director Faces Bipartisan Calls for Resignation After 'Deplorable' Hearing on Trump Assassination Attempt

"What they've done, in my opinion, is they just showed any potential persons who want to do harm how easy it is," Mikels said. "Anybody could have climbed on that roof."

Mikels emphasized that such a national security failure "opens the doors" for people seeking their "five minutes of fame."

Secret Service Director Faces Bipartisan Calls for Resignation After 'Deplorable' Hearing on Trump Assassination Attempt

"It opens the doors for so many potential people who are looking for their five minutes of fame to do something nefarious," he said, "because they realize how untrained and unprepared this detail was."

Mikels believes that Cheatle's failure at leading an agency whose purpose is to protect the nation's leaders demands responsibility.

Secret Service Director Faces Bipartisan Calls for Resignation After 'Deplorable' Hearing on Trump Assassination Attempt

"I don't think she has a win," he said. "Her biggest win today was apologizing to President Trump, to the family of the slain fire chief, and the two victims and taking responsibility."

Mikels stressed that "there is no reason for this level of complete negligence" and that Cheatle needs to be held accountable.

In addition to Mikels' criticism, Cheatle has also faced scrutiny from Senator Tom Cotton, who pointed out a "mistake" made by the Secret Service in blaming the failure to sweep the building where Crooks hid on a misunderstanding.

The Secret Service has vowed cooperation with all investigations into the agency in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Trump, but Mikels believes that Cheatle's inability to answer "basic questions" demonstrates her inadequacy for the role.

Mikels emphasized that "we can't wait 90 days or six months for everybody to get prepared" as a presidential election and the Democratic National Convention approach.