Khanna second Democrat to call for Secret Service director to resign

Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.) became the second Democrat to call for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation, saying the stance is “not political.”

“I just don’t think this is partisan. If you have an assassination attempt on a president, a former president, or a candidate, you need to resign,” Khanna said during questioning of Cheatle, who is testifying Monday before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.

“You cannot go weeding a secret service agency when there is an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate.”

Cheatle has rebuffed calls for her resignation.

“I am dedicated to finding the answers to what happened. And like every secret service agent, we don’t shirk from our responsibilities. I will remain on and be responsible to the agency to this committee, to the former president and to the American public,” she told Khanna.

Khanna expressed disbelief that Cheatle didn’t have more to say.

“Do you really genuinely in your heart believe that you being in this role is what’s right for America at this moment? I mean, do you think there are people who are Trump supporters who have confidence in you? … We’ve got to have agencies in this country that transcend politics, that have the confidence of independents, Democrats, Republicans, progressives, conservatives,” he said.

During their exchange, Khanna pointed to former Secret Service director Stuart Knight, who helmed the agency when former President Reagan also faced an assassination attempt.

Knight was not forced out of his role at the time, but he did end up resigning eight months later.

Khanna, however, pointed to Knight in suggesting Cheatle step aside.

The California Democrat’s call for her resignation comes after Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) was the first in the party to say Cheatle should step aside.

“I am calling on Director Cheatle to resign immediately following last weekend’s shooting of a Presidential candidate in Western Pennsylvania,” Boyle said in a statement posted Saturday to social platform X.

“The evidence coming to light has shown unacceptable operational failures. I have no confidence in the leadership of the United States Secret Service if Director Cheatle chooses to remain in her position.”

Many Republicans have joined the call for Cheatle to resign, or for President Biden to fire her if she doesn’t.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called on Cheatle to resign on Wednesday and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called for new leadership at the agency on the same day.