Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, facing bipartisan scrutiny regarding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the hearing, Cheatle frequently deflected questions by citing an ongoing FBI investigation, frustrating lawmakers.

Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and other committee members criticized Cheatle for the Secret Service’s failure to prevent the attack, despite identifying Thomas Matthew Crooks as a threat before the event. Crooks had been seen bear crawling on a roof near the rally, which the Secret Service had flagged as a potential security vulnerability days earlier.

Cheatle acknowledged the incident as a significant operational failure but refused to resign. She admitted she had not yet visited the site of the assassination attempt, nine days into the investigation. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) asked if Crooks acted alone, to which Cheatle responded, “I would have to refer you to the FBI.”

The hearing highlighted several alarming details about Crooks, including his use of encrypted communications, possession of explosives, and the presence of a bomb detonator found at the scene. These findings raised further questions about whether Crooks had accomplices and the overall security measures in place.

Critics argue that Cheatle’s evasive testimony and the agency’s apparent lapses in security demand accountability. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) stated that Cheatle’s performance made her appear “incompetent” and suggested that had Trump been killed, she would have been seen as “culpable.” The hearing concluded with Cheatle under significant pressure to improve the Secret Service’s preparedness and transparency.