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.