Secret Service Denies Security Clearance Renewal for Kimberly Cheatle

Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will not have her security clearance renewed, a decision influenced by significant opposition from Republican lawmakers, particularly Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. The Secret Service’s decision comes in the wake of scrutiny regarding Cheatle’s tenure, which included her leadership during a recent assassination attempt against President Donald Trump.

The agency announced its decision after inquiries from RealClearPolitics about Johnson’s criticism of Cheatle’s performance. A spokesperson for the Secret Service indicated that as part of an effort to modernize the agency’s intelligence operations, not all former directors would retain their clearances. Sean Curran, who succeeded Cheatle and previously led Trump’s security detail, is said to be spearheading these changes.

During her leadership from 2022 to 2024, Cheatle faced intense criticism following the assassination attempt that occurred on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a bullet grazed Trump’s right ear during a rally. Johnson, chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has been a vocal critic, investigating the Secret Service’s alleged failures leading up to the incident.

The Secret Service typically sponsors security clearances for former directors to facilitate ongoing communication regarding operational and national security matters. This practice aims to ensure that sensitive discussions can take place with former officials who possess relevant expertise.

During the Senate’s investigations, Cheatle was accused of rejecting requests for increased security resources during the 2024 campaign, claims that have fueled ongoing disputes. Last month, on the anniversary of the assassination attempt, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky publicly accused Cheatle of misleading Congress regarding these resource denials. In response, Cheatle vehemently denied these allegations, stating through her attorney, “Any assertion or implication that I provided misleading testimony is patently false.”

In his second term, Trump has taken steps to revoke security clearances for several former officials, often exceeding the actions of Curran. This includes a January executive order aimed at revoking access for the 51 intelligence officials who had labeled a controversial report about Hunter Biden’s laptop as “Russian disinformation.”

Despite his near-fatal encounter, Trump has expressed a degree of understanding towards the Secret Service’s handling of the situation. In a recent interview on Fox News with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, he stated, “They should have had communications with the local police, they weren’t tied in… But I was satisfied in terms of the bigger plot, the larger plot, I was satisfied.”

Trump acknowledged that mistakes were made during the incident but reiterated his confidence in the capabilities of the Secret Service personnel, remarking, “They had a rough day.”

The Secret Service has faced multiple challenges in recent months, including an incident where an agent attempted to bring his wife onto an Air Force One flight during Trump’s recent trip to Scotland.