Director Kimberly Cheatle faced calls for resignation in congressional hearing
Secret Service failed to protect Trump during Pennsylvania rally shooting
Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a potential vulnerability
In a highly contentious congressional hearing, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced bipartisan calls for her resignation as lawmakers grilled her on the agency's failure to protect former President Donald Trump during the attempted assassination at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The roof from which Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire was identified as a potential vulnerability days before the event. Cheatle acknowledged that her agency failed in its mission and vowed to
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged that her agency failed to protect Trump during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
The roof from which Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire was identified as a potential vulnerability days before the rally
Accuracy
Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt on July 13, 2023
Deception
(30%)
The article contains editorializing and selective reporting. The author uses phrases like 'most significant operational failure in decades' and 'solemn mission to protect our nation's leaders' which are editorial opinions. The author also only reports details that support the idea of a security failure without mentioning any potential mitigating factors or context. For example, the fact that local law enforcement identified the suspect as suspicious but did not deem him a threat until seconds before he opened fire is not mentioned until later in the article.
most significant operational failure in decades
solemn mission to protect our nation's leaders
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(80%)
The article does not contain any clear examples of bias towards a specific political ideology, religion, or monetary gain. However, the author uses language that depicts the Secret Service's failure to protect Trump as 'most significant operational failure in decades.' This could be seen as an exaggeration and potentially biased characterization of the event.
The Secret Service's solemn mission is to protect our nation's leaders. On July 13th, we failed.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) cursed at Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle during her testimony.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle refused to step down from her position despite acknowledging the agency failed.
Accuracy
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) cursed at Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle during her testimony about the failed assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced growing, bipartisan calls for her resignation during a brutal hearing on the attempted assassination of former President Trump.
Cheatle admitted the assassination attempt was the ‘most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades.’
Several Democrats joined calls for Cheatle to resign, including Rep. Jamie Raskin.
Cheatle declined to provide specific details about the investigation into how the suspect gained access or opened fire from a nearby roof.
The roof where the shooter fired from was identified as a potential vulnerability days before the rally.
Accuracy
Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt on July 13, 2023
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged that her agency failed to protect Trump during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
Cheatle revealed that suspicious activity regarding the gunman had been reported to local law enforcement before the shooting
The roof from which Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire was identified as a potential vulnerability days before the rally
One spectator was killed and two others were injured during the shooting
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as the author only reports details that support their position of Cheatle's lack of answers during the hearing. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing the hearing as 'brutal' and 'fiery', implying a negative connotation towards Cheatle. Additionally, there are instances of sensationalism with phrases like 'most significant operational failure in decades', 'shocking', and 'stunning operational failure'. The author also uses editorializing by stating that the relationship between Cheatle and Congress is 'irretrievable' and that she has lost their confidence.
Cheatle, who has been in her role for just less than two years, admitted the assassination attempt was the ‘most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades.’
You can’t tell us anything about his cell phone. You can’t tell us whether the rally was supposed to be postponed given the intelligence that you were receiving. You can’t tell us whether the [shooter’s] car had a bomb.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)… laid out a lengthy list of all the questions Cheatle had failed to answer.
This committee is known for its fiery hearings and partisan rhetoric
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(80%)
The authors use the term 'brutal hearing' and describe the committee as being known for its 'fiery hearings and partisan rhetoric'. This language sets a negative tone towards the event and could be seen as implying bias against those involved. The authors also quote several representatives expressing frustration, exasperation, and disbelief at Cheatle's testimony. These quotes could be seen as reflecting a negative bias towards Cheatle.
And I think that the director has lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent and tender moment in the history of the country.
This committee is not known for its model of bipartisanship.
We came together unanimously in our disappointment for your lack of answers.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced frustration from lawmakers due to her indirect answers and the lack of information provided by the agency.
Cheatle took responsibility for the security lapses but did not provide specific details about how the suspect gained access or opened fire from a nearby roof.
Accuracy
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced a tense House Oversight Committee hearing regarding the agency's security preparations before a 13 July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Cheatle took responsibility for the security lapses but faced frustration from lawmakers due to her indirect answers and the lack of information provided by the agency.
One spectator was killed and two others were injured during the shooting.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains emotional manipulation through the use of phrases like 'mounting calls to step down', 'frustrated lawmakers', and 'fury'. The author also uses sensationalism by describing the hearing as a 'rare show of bipartisanship on an increasingly polarised Capitol Hill' and the director's answers as continuously sparking the ire of lawmakers. Additionally, there is selective reporting as only negative aspects of Cheatle's performance are highlighted.
The demand came during and after a tense House Oversight Committee hearing on Monday that questioned Ms Cheatle about her agency’s security preparations ahead of a 13 July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that led to the attempt on Trump’s life.
Ms Cheatle also acknowledged that, to date, no Secret Service officers or employees have been disciplined for what took place in Butler.
Lawmakers used expletives, shouted at the witness and questioned the director’s honesty and competence.
Fallacies
(75%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the hearing as 'bruising' for Ms Cheatle and lawmakers using expletives and shouting at her. The author also reports that some Representatives groaned loudly, rolled their eyes, or muttered audibly in response to Cheatle's comments. These descriptions can be seen as an appeal to emotion and an attempt to sway the reader's opinion of Ms Cheatle.
The hearing seemed to devolve into fury.
Lawmakers used expletives, shouted at the witness and questioned her honesty and competence.
At times, the tense hearing on Monday seemed to devolve into fury. Lawmakers used expletives, shouted at the witness and questioned her honesty and competence.
In one of the tensest moments of the hearing, South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace uttered a string of expletives in response to another one of Ms Cheatle’s answers.
Bias
(75%)
The author, Bernd Debusmann Jr, focuses on the calls for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle following a failed assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. The author highlights the frustration and anger expressed by lawmakers towards Cheatle's answers during a House Oversight Committee hearing. While there is no overt political, religious or ideological bias in the article, the author does emphasize the dissatisfaction with Cheatle's performance and lack of information provided by her, which could be interpreted as implying that she is not adequately fulfilling her role. This gives a slightly negative slant to the reporting.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers called on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down in the wake of the assassination attempt of Donald Trump.
