Boebert introduces bill to defund Secret Service director’s salary
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) introduced a bill on Monday to prohibit federal funds from being used on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s salary or expenses.
The move comes as lawmakers heap scrutiny on the Secret Service in wake of Saturday’s assassination attempt of former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In explaining the bill, Boebert raised the possibility — without evidence — that the incident was “intentional,” rather than based on “gross incompetence” on the part of the Secret Service. She also took aim at alleged prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the agency.
“Saturday’s assassination attempt on President Trump’s life was either intentional or the result of gross incompetence by the United States Secret Service,” Boebert said in a statement alongside the bill’s announcement.
“Under Director Cheatle's failed leadership, the United States Secret Service has prioritized woke DEI policies over the core responsibilities of the Secret Service, including protecting our nation’s leaders. This lack of leadership contributed to the first assassination attempt of a President in 43 years. Director Cheatle has got to go!”
Eight other House Republicans cosponsored the bill, Boebert’s office said in a release: Rep. Jeff Duncan (S.C.), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (Tenn.), Rep. Cory Mills (Fla.), Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Rep. Barry Moore (Ala.), Rep. Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Rep. Josh Brecheen (Okla.), and Rep. Bill Posey (Fla.).
The Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Boebert’s statement and her bill.
In an interview with ABC News that aired Monday, Cheatle said that the Secret Service bears responsibility for the security lapses that led to the shooting.
"The buck stops with me," Cheatle said. "I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary."
However, she has said she will not resign from her role in wake of the criticism.
Six Congressional committees across both the House and Senate are already involved in assessing and investigating the security lapses that led to the attack.
In a statement on Monday, Cheatle said that the Secret Service will “work with the appropriate Congressional committees on any oversight action.”
After the attack, Trump said in a statement that a bullet had “pierced” his right ear. One rally attendee died, and two others were seriously injured. The suspected shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by the Secret Service.