U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said Monday 鈥渢he buck stops with me鈥 as questions have swirled about the agency鈥檚 security preparations following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump Saturday.
Cheatle told ABC News on Monday that 鈥渢he Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president鈥 and 鈥渢he buck stops with me, I am the director of the Secret Service.鈥 She says she plans to stay on as director.
The director said the shooting 鈥渨as unacceptable,鈥 adding, 鈥淭his is an event that never should have happened.鈥
When asked what her initial reaction was to the failed attempt on Trump鈥檚 life, Cheatle said: 鈥淪hock and then concern, obviously, for the former president.鈥
In her first public comment since the Trump assassination attempt, Cheatle said in a statement earlier Monday the agency will 鈥減articipate fully鈥 in an independent review ordered by President Joe Biden and will work with Congress on 鈥渁ny oversight action.鈥
Cheatle, who was appointed by Biden in 2022, expressed confidence in the agency鈥檚 security plan for this week鈥檚 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and said changes have been made to Trump鈥檚 security detail since Saturday.
鈥淭he Secret Service is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy,鈥 Cheatle said. 鈥淚t is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously, and I am committed to fulfilling that mission.鈥
House Oversight Committee Republicans sent a letter to Cheatle with a new series of document requests and a notice to preserve all documents and communications regarding Trump鈥檚 Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, as the committee separately investigates the assassination attempt.
CNN鈥檚 Annie Grayer and Whitney Wild contributed to this report.