Butler, Pennsylvania – U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has expressed her full support for an independent security review of the recent assassination plot against former President Donald Trump. In a press release on Sunday, Cheatle stated, “We are looking forward to collaborating with the independent security review of the U.S. Secret Service’s actions regarding the July 13 assassination attempt of former President Trump in Butler. I am eager for the panel to investigate the events and provide recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.”
Cheatle emphasized that the agency is actively reviewing its actions internally and is committed to cooperating transparently with other investigations by Congress, FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.
The independent review will consist of four individuals: former President George W. Bush’s Homeland security adviser Frances Townsend, former Bush administration federal judge Mark Filip, former Maryland State Police superintendent David Mitchell, and former DHS secretary Janet Napolitano. They have been tasked with examining the policies and procedures of the Secret Service before and after the assassination attempt carried out by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned the possibility of adding more experts to the panel in the coming days to ensure a thorough review of the Secret Service operations. The group will have 45 days to complete its assessment and provide recommendations for enhancements within the agency.
Members of the panel issued a joint statement affirming their bipartisan efforts to identify improvements within the Secret Service to prevent future events like the one on July 13. They expressed a collective concern for the safety of public officials and highlighted the importance of aligning efforts to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Cheatle is expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday to address the findings and recommendations from the independent security review. The outcome of this review will likely have significant implications for the policies and procedures of the U.S. Secret Service in safeguarding public officials and key figures moving forward.