US Secret Service chief confronted by GOP senators over Trump assassination bid

At the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Wednesday night, the head of the US Secret Service was confronted by Republican senators, one of whom was the top GOP member of theSenate.

They wanted her to step down or provide a detailed account ofthe security lapses that almost led to the death of former United StatesPresident DonaldTrump.

At the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Secret Service director Kimberly ACheatle was strongly confronted by Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. A staff member filmed the encounter and shared it with a reporter.

The video, which Blackburn also posted on X, shows Barrasso questioning Cheatle about why Trump was allowed to speak onstage at hisrally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, even though authorities had already identified the shooter,Thomas Matthew Crooks, as suspicious.

“You put him within less than an inch of his life,” Barrasso said to Cheatle, almost yelling.

“So resignation or full explanation,” Barrasso.

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Cheatle walked out of the suite without responding asGOP Senatorscontinued to hurl questions at her and insist that she owed them answers as they followed her up a flight of stairs and along a corridor inside the arena.

Given its magnitude, the federal government has classified the Republican National Convention as a "national special security event," which is the highest threat profile.

In a joint interview, Barrasso and Blackburn, said after the event they had a briefing call with Cheatle and FBI Director Christopher Wray, earlier that day. The senators expressed frustration, stating that they had been waiting to ask questions when the call abruptly ended, deeming the briefing inadequate.

Barrasso called the briefing a "cover-your-ass call," saying, "We were trying to understand the circumstances, like how the shooter was able to be on the roof alone and fire shots."

Both senators said that when they heard that Cheatle was in the arena, they decided to confront her. Barrasso said that they were joined by Senators James Lankford of Oklahoma and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota.

Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the US Secret Service, released a statement sayingthat Cheatle "has no intentions to step down" and that "continuity of operations is paramount during a critical incident."

"She deeply respects members of Congress," Guglielmi added, "and is fiercely committed to transparency in leading the Secret Service through the internal investigation and strengthening the agency through lessons learned in these important internal and external reviews."

In an interview inside the convention arena, Barrasso said that he and Blackburn only gave up their pursuit of Cheatle after she fled into a restroom.

"She ran up a flight of steps, and we were up with her. And it looked like she then went into a ladies’ room and her security closed the door and locked the door," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)