dpa
Washington
US Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday in the wake of the assassination attempt against Donald Trump at a campaign rally.
Both Republicans and Democrats have been demanding that she step down over the security failures at Trump’s rally near Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 that resulted in a bullet grazing his right ear.
Cheatle had rebuffed those calls until now, including during more than four hours of tough questioning by incensed lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Monday.
The representatives demanded to know how the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to climb to an elevated position with an assault rifle and fire a number of shots at Trump. But Cheatle did not provide clear answers to a number of questions about the security lapses.
The attack also left one audience member dead and two other spectators badly injured. Crooks was shot dead.
US media reported that Cheatle shared her resignation with Secret Service employees in an email.
"In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director,” the email read.
The White House issued a statement on behalf of President Joe Biden that read: "Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service. She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service.
"We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our administration and we are grateful for her service to our family.”
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, meanwhile, said Cheatle’s resignation was "overdue.” "She should have done this at least a week ago,” he added.
Cheatle had been head of the Secret Service since 2022.
US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday appointed Cheatle’s former deputy Ronald Rowe to serve as acting director.