Senators confront Secret Service director at GOP convention, she declines to answer questions

Senators followed Cheatle as she left an arena suite and continued to ask her to explain why the Secret Service would allow Trump to go on stage knowing there was a person of interest at the rally that was a potential threat. 

Published: July 17, 2024 10:38pm

Updated: July 17, 2024 11:18pm

A group of Republican senators confronted Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle about the agency's handling of security at former President Trump's rally in Butler, Pa. where he was shot on Saturday.

Cheatle, who was in a suite at the convention arena when the senators caught up with her on Wednesday night, declined to answer questions about the assassination attempt on Trump, telling the lawmakers it wasn't the proper forum.

In a video posted by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Cheatle can be seen leaving the suite and the senators followed her continuing to ask her why the Secret Service would allow Trump to go on stage knowing there was a suspicious person at the rally that was a potential threat. 

Cheatle keeps walking and refuses to answer. 

"No shame. No concern. You're supposed to protect the president of the United States," Barrasso told Cheatle as she walked away from the group of lawmakers. 

"You answer to us," added Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.

"You owe President Trump answers," Blackburn said.

"You cannot run away," Barrasso said as the senators tried catching up with Cheatle, who was surrounded by security guards.

"The president should have had this good of protection for crying out loud," said an unidentified voice off camera.

Earlier in the day, the Secret Service briefed senators on the investigation into the assassination attempt. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy., said the question queue was cut off early so many senators were unable to ask anything.

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