After an assassination attempt and the death of a rally attendee on Saturday afternoon, conservative commentator, radio host, and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino criticized the sloppy methods of Donald Trump’s security detail. Bongino singled out Kim Cheatle, director of the US Secret Service, for special criticism.
I can state with full certainty that USSS Director Kim Cheatle has denied calls for a stronger security presence surrounding President Trump on many occasions. Despite being cognizant of the threat’s catastrophic nature.
No one else had confirmed these claims when Bongino made them, but Bongino isn’t known to talk trash or make broad charges to stir up controversy or get views. Once upon a time, Bongino worked for a secret agency. Therefore, it is crucial to pay close attention if he mentions an inside source who provides him with information.
“I am currently discussing the attempted assassination with several former Secret Service colleagues. There should be absolutely no attempt at making excuses for this blatantly disastrous mistake. There needs to be a solution for the ground situation, as the failures are serious.”
“The serious failures in ground and air surveillance, post-stander support, and counter-sniper advance operations and responses require clarification. Today, we narrowly avoided a catastrophic failure on our single task. Quietly failing is not the same as succeeding.”
Sean Davis, co-founder of The Federalist, quickly agreed with Bongino when he posted. The sources that Davis consulted also said that the Trump campaign had repeatedly turned down efforts to increase the size of his Secret Service detail.
Bongino called for Cheatle’s immediate resignation and criticized her political stance in a special episode of his program.
In a recent interview with George Stephanopoulos on “ABC News This Week,” Cheatle asserted with conviction that there is “nothing specific and nothing serious” in relation to threats.
It is the height of arrogance to have conducted this interview after Saturday night’s attempted assassination. When Bongino asked Cheatle to step down, others joined him.
The House Oversight Committee has called Cheatle to appear on Monday, July 22, and Republican members of Congress have already begun to push for separate probes into the security lapses that led to the murder attempt.
Author: Blake Ambrose
