Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle says the agency will participate in an investigation of its actions during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
This comes after President Joe Biden said he ordered an independent review of national security at the Pennsylvania rally where the incident occurred. The president said the findings will be shared with the American public.
“The Secret Service is working with all involved federal, state and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again,” Cheatle said in a statement. “We understand the importance of the independent review announced by President Biden yesterday and will participate fully. We will also work with the appropriate Congressional committees on any oversight action.”
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Trump said a bullet struck the upper part of his right ear in the incident. One spectator at the rally, Corey Comperatore, was killed as he shielded his family from the gunfire. Two other attendees were critically injured but are now in stable condition.
The shooting left some wondering about security efforts and procedures at the event that would let such an attack occur.
Cheatle acknowledged that the incident has also “understandably” led to questions about protection efforts at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Monday, but was confident about plans in place.
“I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting. The security plans for National Special Security Events are designed to be flexible. As the conventions progress, and in accordance with the direction of the President, the Secret Service will continuously adapt our operations as necessary in order to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee,” Cheatle said.
The Secret Service director also said changes have been made to Trump’s security detail since Saturday to ensure he is adequately protected. Those come in addition to security enhancements made in June.
“The Secret Service is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy. It is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously, and I am committed to fulfilling that mission,” said Cheatle.
Cheatle recounted the Secret Service’s response to the shooting, saying, “Personnel on the ground moved quickly during the incident, with our counter sniper team neutralizing the shooter and our agents implementing protective measures to ensure the safety of former president Donald Trump.”
The shooter in Saturday's attack, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was killed by Secret Service.
She said since the attack, she has been in constant contact with Secret Service personnel in Pennsylvania who maintained the crime scene until the Federal Bureau of Investigation assumed its role in leading investigation efforts.
Cheatle expressed her condolences to the family of Comperatore after the father and husband lost his life in what she called a “senseless act of violence.”
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