[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1368 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1368
Impeaching Kimberly A. Cheatle, Director of the United States Secret
Service, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2024
Mr. Steube (for himself, Ms. Greene of Georgia, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Self,
Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Banks, Mr. Fry, Mr. Mills, and Mr. Smith
of New Jersey) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Impeaching Kimberly A. Cheatle, Director of the United States Secret
Service, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolved, That Kimberly A. Cheatle, Director of the United States
Secret Service, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that
the following article of impeachment be exhibited to the United States
Senate:
Article of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives
of the United States of America in the name of itself and of the people
of the United States of America, against Kimberly A. Cheatle, Director
of the United States Secret Service, in maintenance and support of its
impeachment against her for high crimes and misdemeanors.
article i: dereliction of duty
The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ``shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment'' and that civil Officers of the
United States, including the Director of the Secret Service, ``shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors''. In her conduct as
Director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle has negligently failed
to uphold the agency's mission and statutory charge to ``ensure the
safety and security'' of ``protectees, key locations, and events of
national significance''. Under section 3056 of title 18, United States
Code, the Secret Service is tasked with providing protection to former
Presidents as well as ``major Presidential candidates''.
On July 13, 2024, President Donald Trump, a former President and a
``major Presidential candidate'' under the statutory definition, was
the target of an assassination attempt at a speech in Butler,
Pennsylvania. By Providence alone, President Trump survived the attempt
on his life while being grazed by a bullet that injured his ear.
Tragically, a rally attendee, Corey Comperatore, was fatally struck by
a bullet in the attack.
The attacker was able to access the roof of a building
approximately 130 yards away with an unobstructed line of sight to
President Trump on the event stage. He then fired multiple rounds aimed
at President Trump before being neutralized by counter snipers.
In a media interview, Director Cheatle noted that neither Secret
Service personnel nor local law enforcement secured the roof of the
building due to a slight slope at the roof's apex. She stated, ``That
building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point. And so,
you know, there's a safety factor that would be considered there that
we wouldn't want to put somebody up on a sloped roof. And so, you know,
the decision was made to secure the building, from inside.''. Due to
this failure, the shooter was able to access the roof unimpeded by
personnel charged with site security. Director Cheatle also stated in
the interview that ``the buck stops with me''.
Despite initial denials, Secret Service leadership reportedly
denied requests for enhanced security for President Trump repeatedly
over the past two years. Reports indicate that senior officials
rejected several requests for additional agents, magnetometers, and
counter snipers for outdoor events.
Under Director Cheatle's leadership, the United States Secret
Service has turned its focus away from solely providing the best
protection services possible for protectees to meet arbitrarily set
diversity hiring quotas. While already facing significant hiring and
retention challenges, the Director established a goal for 30 percent of
all recruits to be female by 2030. While the mission of the agency is
to provide protection to its protectees, Director Cheatle chose to
focus on the gender of recruits instead of their fitness for the job.
Through these actions, Director Cheatle has demonstrated a neglect
for her duty to lead the Secret Service in a manner that provides
effective protection to protectees, including President Donald Trump.
Wherefore, Kimberly A. Cheatle, by such conduct, warrants
impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to
hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United
States.
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