Director Of Secret Service Talks About Trump's Shooting At The US Congress: We Failed

Donald Trump At The Republican/PHOTO Convention Via Instagram @realdonaldtrump

JAKARTA - Director of the United States Secret Service (US) Kimberly Cheatle confessed to Congress he and his agency failed when a shooter attempted to kill Republican president Donald Trump in the July 13 campaign in Pennsylvania.

"We failed," said Cheatle, who faced Republican calls for him to be removed, in his testimony before the House of Representatives Super Committee.

"The assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump on July 13 was the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades," Cheatle said.

Facing Republican claims the Secret Service did not provide resources to protect Trump, Cheatle said security for the former president had escalated ahead of the shooting.

The level of security given to the former president increased long before the campaign and continued to increase as threats developed, Cheatle said.

He stressed that Secret Service provides the security Trump's campaign team wants for the general meeting campaign.

"What I can convey, for the July 13 event, the details requested, the assets requested that day have been given," continued Cheatle.

He declined to answer specific questions regarding today's security plans from Republicans and Democrats, and said the matter was being investigated internally.

The Congressional committee hearing on Monday marked the first round of congressional scrutiny over the attempted assassination. On Wednesday, July 24, FBI Director Christopher Wray will appear before the House Judiciary Committee.

DPR Speaker Mike Johnson will also form a bipartisan task force that serves as a link for the DPR investigation.

Cheatle previously rejected calls for his resignation from top Republican officials including Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The Republican House of Representatives Supervisory Committee, James Comer, echoed the call.

"I am very confident, Director of Cheatle, that you must resign," said the Republican from Kentucky.