In the aftermath of the shooting incident targeting former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is facing mounting pressure to step down from her position. Despite the growing number of elected officials calling for her resignation, Cheatle has reiterated that she has no plans to leave her post.

The criticism towards the Secret Service stems from what Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas labeled as a "failure" that allowed a gunman to fire shots towards Trump over the weekend. Cheatle's decision to remain in her role has drawn sharp rebuke from various leaders, prompting them to demand her resignation or termination.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, stated that Cheatle has no intentions of stepping down and emphasized the importance of maintaining leadership continuity. Guglielmi praised Cheatle's commitment to transparency throughout the internal investigation and her dedication to strengthening the agency through the lessons learned from internal and external reviews.

The House Oversight Committee has taken action against Cheatle, issuing her a subpoena to testify at a hearing scheduled for July 22. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who requested her appearance, criticized Cheatle for a perceived lack of transparency and cooperation with the committee, which has raised concerns about her ability to effectively lead the Secret Service.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., along with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and several other leaders have joined the call for Cheatle's resignation following her defense of the Secret Service's response to the shooting incident. Johnson announced his intention to establish a bipartisan House task force to investigate the attempted assassination, citing lingering questions about the agency's handling of the situation.

Additional details have emerged regarding the security lapses that allowed the shooter to perch on a building near the rally site. The building, which was being used as a police tactical team staging area, had three local police snipers stationed inside with orders to monitor the rally. However, despite an officer spotting the suspected shooter with a range finder and observing him on the roof, he managed to scale the building without being stopped.

CNN reported that the Secret Service failed to sweep the building where the shooter was positioned, placing the responsibility for security on local police. Local law enforcement agencies have attributed the security lapses to a lack of manpower and extremely poor planning. Interestingly, the Secret Service had identified the rooftop as a potential security vulnerability prior to the incident.

The growing calls for Cheatle's resignation have come from a range of sources, including political figures such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as well as Donald Trump's son Eric Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The pressure being exerted on Cheatle highlights the need for accountability and renewed trust in the Secret Service.

In response to inquiries about the increased protection of Trump ahead of the rally, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated that they had recently added resources to Trump's security detail but made no mention of a purported unrelated Iranian assassination plot. Sources revealed that Trump had been repeatedly warned by his security team about the risks associated with holding outdoor campaign rallies.

As investigations into the shooting continue, videos and testimonies from rally attendees have emerged, revealing their attempts to alert authorities about the presence of the shooter. Despite their efforts, the shooting occurred, leaving one person dead and two others critically injured. The shooter, identified as Crooks, was ultimately shot and killed by Secret Service snipers.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has announced a bipartisan investigation into the attempted assassination of Trump, with a goal to conclude by August. The House Oversight Committee has also initiated its own investigation and has summoned Cheatle to testify.

As the independent reviews and investigations unfold, Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas has emphasized the need to provide answers to the American people and to prevent such incidents from happening again. The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general has committed to evaluating the Secret Service's process in securing former President Trump, alongside its planning ahead of the campaign event.

Despite the controversy surrounding Cheatle's leadership, Mayorkas expressed his full confidence in her and stressed the agency's focus on learning from the incident to become stronger and better. Cheatle, in her first public statement since the shooting, commended parts of the agency's response while promising full cooperation with the independent investigation ordered by President Joe Biden. She also expressed confidence in the security measures implemented for the upcoming Republican National Convention.

In light of the incident, President Biden has issued a new order to extend agency protection to independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This decision will require the Secret Service to seek additional resources from Congress, as the agency has historically struggled with limited resources.

The shooting incident targeting Donald Trump has raised significant concerns about the Secret Service's ability to protect high-profile individuals. As the investigations progress, the focus remains on accountability, transparency, and implementing measures to prevent similar security lapses in the future.