Ranking Member Raskin’s Statement on Resignation of United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle

Washington, D.C. (July 23, 2024)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, issued the following statement after United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation:

“Yesterday’s Oversight Committee hearing identified two urgent priorities in the wake of the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump and the accompanying mass shooting.  The first was the need for Director Cheatle to step down and give new leadership at the Secret Service the opportunity to swiftly address this crisis, rebuild the trust of Congress and the American people, and guarantee security to protectees.  We accomplished that today. 

“The other urgent need was to ban assault weapons to protect the rest of us from mass shootings like the one that took place in Butler.  As I made clear during yesterday’s hearing, a weapon that can be used to commit a mass shooting at an event under the full protection of the Secret Service and state and local police is a danger to schoolchildren, Walmart shoppers and congregants in church, synagogue and mosque services.  As a weapon of war, the AR-15 has no legitimate place in our society.  Congress must act now.”