Accountability Now: Mayorkas and Cheatle Must Resign After Trump Rally Debacle

 

Despite a staggering annual budget of $3 billion and a staff of over 8,000, the Secret Service's inability to prevent a sniper from nearly assassinating Donald Trump underscores a grave deficiency in leadership and operational preparedness.

In a stunning and highly disturbing event on July 13th, a sniper managed to mount an unsecured rooftop with a direct line of sight to former President Donald Trump, who was standing merely 150 meters away. The incident unfolded during a rally near Pittsburgh, where the would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired at Trump, narrowly missing him due to a lucky turn of the head. Crooks did, however, fatally shoot a rally-goer before being shot dead himself. This alarming breach of security raises critical questions about the effectiveness of the United States Secret Service and calls for accountability from top officials, specifically Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.

The Secret Service, an agency tasked with the monumental responsibility of protecting current and former presidents, their families, and major presidential candidates, has a storied history that dates back to the early 20th century. Initially formed to combat counterfeiting, the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, the third president killed in 36 years, prompted its evolution into a protective agency. Despite its growth from a modest 300 staff members to over 8,000 today, and an annual budget increase from $5 million to $3 billion, recent history shows the Secret Service has suffered significant lapses in security.

The assassination attempt on Trump echoes past failures of the Secret Service. Notably, during the Obama administration, a series of incidents highlighted the agency's vulnerabilities. In 2011, agents failed to recognize a sniper attack on the White House until four days later when a housekeeper discovered broken glass. The following year, agents involved in a prostitution scandal in Colombia were dismissed. In 2014, an intruder armed with a knife managed to jump the White House fence and run through the building, leading to a damning report that cited a "catastrophic failure of training."

These historical failures set a worrying precedent, making the lapse at Trump's rally even more egregious. The rally near Pittsburgh was marred by multiple security oversights. Crooks positioned himself on a rooftop outside what the Secret Service deemed the inner perimeter of the rally, which meant that securing that rooftop was the responsibility of local law enforcement. This perimeter was evidently too conservative. Moreover, bystanders had spotted Crooks and alerted the police a full minute and a half before the firing commenced. Despite this, the response was insufficient; one officer scrambled onto the roof but retreated when Crooks aimed his gun at him.

The Secret Service reportedly deployed fewer counter-snipers to the rally than typical for such events. Some speculated that this was due to resource constraints, possibly linked to First Lady Jill Biden's visit to Pittsburgh on the same day, although the Secret Service denies this claim. Furthermore, Trump's regular security detail was allegedly overworked and supplemented by less experienced personnel. This lack of experience may have contributed to the failure to anticipate and neutralize the threat posed by Crooks.

Congressional scrutiny is intensifying, with lawmakers planning to question Kimberly Cheatle on July 22nd and launch an inquiry into the "inexcusable" security breach. President Joe Biden has also ordered an independent investigation into the shooting. The Secret Service must now provide answers to restore public confidence and ensure such a lapse does not recur.

It is imperative to examine the roles of Alejandro Mayorkas and Kimberly Cheatle in this debacle. Mayorkas, as the head of the Department of Homeland Security, oversees the Secret Service. His acknowledgment of the incident as a "failure" underscores the gravity of the situation. However, mere acknowledgment is insufficient; accountability and corrective action are required. Cheatle, as the director of the Secret Service, bears direct responsibility for the agency's operations and the safety of the individuals under its protection. The failure at the Pittsburgh rally points to a significant oversight in planning and execution, areas directly under her purview.

Historical context further emphasizes the need for accountability. The Secret Service's protective mission has evolved through lessons learned from past tragedies. The assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, despite Secret Service protection, led to significant changes in security protocols. Ronald Reagan's near-fatal shooting in 1981 highlighted the importance of rapid response and comprehensive security measures. Each incident has been a catalyst for reform, aimed at preventing future failures.

Yet, the failures during the Obama administration and now this recent incident at Trump's rally suggest that past lessons have not been fully integrated into the agency's practices. The persistent issues of inadequate training, insufficient resource allocation, and suboptimal perimeter security indicate systemic problems that require immediate and decisive action.

In light of these failures, both Alejandro Mayorkas and Kimberly Cheatle must resign. Their leadership has not only failed to prevent a near-tragedy but has also eroded public trust in an agency crucial to national security. Their resignations would signal a commitment to accountability and pave the way for necessary reforms within the Secret Service. It would also underscore the seriousness with which the government views the protection of its leaders and the imperative of learning from past mistakes to safeguard the future.

The shocking breach at Trump's rally is a clarion call for change. It is a reminder that the safety of public figures cannot be compromised, and those entrusted with their protection must be held to the highest standards. The resignations of Mayorkas and Cheatle are not just warranted; they are essential for the restoration of confidence in the Secret Service and the safeguarding of democracy itself.