Sen. Marsha Blackburn Calls for Firing of Secret Service Director Over Trump Assassination Attempt

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) demanded the firing of the Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, after she refused to answer questions about the security failures that led to the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has emerged as a vocal critic of the Secret Service following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In an exclusive interview with Fox News, Blackburn expressed her frustration with the lack of answers from Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.

"She's going to have to come forward. She can run, but she cannot hide," Blackburn told Harris Faulkner on Thursday. "She has to provide these answers. She should be fired. She should have been fired Saturday night."

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Calls for Firing of Secret Service Director Over Trump Assassination Attempt

Blackburn's demand for Cheatle's dismissal stems from a confrontation she had with the Director at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee. Blackburn, along with Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), attempted to question Cheatle about the security lapses that allowed the gunman to infiltrate the event.

Blackburn revealed that she and Barrasso tracked down Cheatle at the RNC after a conference call with other lawmakers who were briefed on the shooting. However, Blackburn said the call was abruptly cut off, leaving legislators without satisfactory answers.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Calls for Firing of Secret Service Director Over Trump Assassination Attempt

"They said, oh, there are no more questions in the queue," Blackburn said. "And they cut the call and everyone was like, we need some answers."

When they confronted Cheatle in person, she reportedly dismissed their questions, saying it was not an appropriate setting for such a discussion. Blackburn said Cheatle's response demonstrated a lack of transparency and accountability.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Calls for Firing of Secret Service Director Over Trump Assassination Attempt

Blackburn also criticized Cheatle for prioritizing donors over the safety of Trump and the public. She pointed out that while the Director was attending a cocktail party to thank donors, lawmakers were struggling to obtain answers about the shooting.

"How astounding it was that she was very comfortable in that luxury suite, having a cocktail party, saying thank you to people that had helped fund security," Blackburn said. "But Harris, she would not take five minutes and provide answers for the people..."

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Calls for Firing of Secret Service Director Over Trump Assassination Attempt

Blackburn argued that Cheatle's actions exposed the tone-deafness and skewed priorities of the Secret Service leadership.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has faced similar criticism for his handling of the investigation into the shooting. Lawmakers from both parties have questioned how the gunman was able to scale the building and fire multiple shots at Trump without being apprehended.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Calls for Firing of Secret Service Director Over Trump Assassination Attempt

Cheatle has agreed to comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the incident. Critics have called for her resignation, citing her alleged incompetence and lack of accountability.

The Secret Service has come under intense scrutiny following the assassination attempt on Trump. Sen. Blackburn's vocal criticism and demand for Cheatle's firing reflect the growing public outcry for accountability and transparency. The ongoing congressional investigations and media coverage will continue to shed light on the security failures that led to this tragic event.