The fall out surrounding former President Donald Trump’s attempted assassination took another dramatic turn after a Florida Republican lawmaker filed an impeachment article.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) announced on Monday that he has filed articles of impeachment against Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. The lawmaker, who made the announcement on X, blasted her for mishandling the attempt on Trump’s life.
This afternoon, I exercised our Congressional authority of oversight by filing an article of impeachment against Director Cheatle for her dereliction of duty as it relates to the assassination attempt on President Trump’s life. As she said herself in a recent interview, the… pic.twitter.com/2vIjR9QktM
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) July 23, 2024
The GOP lawmaker also criticized Cheatle’s poor performance before the House Oversight Committee on Monday.
“In light of Kimberly Cheatle’s unacceptable handling of the Trump assassination attempt, her disastrous appearance before the House Oversight committee today, and her refusal to resign, we have no choice but to impeach,” Steube wrote on X. “I will be filing articles of impeachment against Kimberly Cheatle this afternoon.”
In light of Kimberly Cheatle’s unacceptable handling of the Trump assassination attempt, her disastrous appearance before the House Oversight committee today, and her refusal to resign, we have no choice but to impeach.
I will be filing articles of impeachment against Kimberly…
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) July 22, 2024
Steube’s articles of impeachment accused Cheatle of dereliction of duty in connection to the attempt on Trump’s life.
In a statement, the lawmaker revealed that he was filling the article because Cheatle had insisted that she was responsible for the Secret Service’s failure that nearly got Trump killed.
Thank you to: @RepMTG@RepMaryMiller @RepOgles@RepKeithSelf@RepJimBanks@RepRussellFry
& Rep. Chris Smithfor cosponsoring my articles of impeachment against the USSS Director.
Cheatle must go. https://t.co/b4BUwtOUVP
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) July 23, 2024
“Multiple confirmed reports show that the Secret Service Sniper had the would-be assassin in his sights for almost 20 minutes,” Steube’s statement reads. “How was the would-be assassin not neutralized before he shot? Every supervisor in that chain of command should be fired immediately and that starts with the director. An American hero is dead and several severely wounded as a result of the Secret Service failure to protect President Trump.”
The lawmaker cited multiple reports showing that Cheatle had denied multiple requests from Trump’s security Service detail for additional safety resources.
“All in the chain of command including the Director should be held responsible.” the lawmaker added.
Steube revealed that Cheatle’s failure to provide adequate answers to questions from lawmakers contributed to his latest move against her.
“Particularly after her abysmal testimony today before the Oversight Committee, where little to no questions were properly answered and she doubled down on her refusal to resign, we have no choice but to impeach Director Cheatle,” Steube said.
Cheatle testified before lawmakers on Monday. The director’s performance was disastrous, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) demanded she face a perjury investigation.
“Chairman, in my opinion, according to some of the testimony today, I feel that [Cheatle] has perjured [herself] in some instances, and, so, I’m going to ask for a full review of the transcripts by staff, and if you find that to be the case, I do ask that you bring perjury charges against the director,” Luna said after Cheatle denied knowledge of threats against Trump.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna asks the chairman of the House Oversight Committee to look into perjury charges against Kimberly Cheatle.
“Every single member of Congress does not feel safe with you in charge. We are all sitting ducks with you directing the Secret Service.” pic.twitter.com/a1gBNTZNdX
— Alana Mastrangelo (@ARmastrangelo) July 22, 2024