Violence in Birmingham is getting national attention once again. This time, during the House Oversight Committee hearing over the Secret Service's moves ahead of the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle said it was her responsibility to manage steps made by the agency, and she takes responsibility for allowing 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks to climb on a roof with a gun and take a shot at Trump during a Pennsylvania campaign rally.
Committee ranking member U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said he has united with GOP members over the shooting in saying they are united in condemning all political violence. He expressed condolences and called Trump's survival a miracle.
Raskin also used the shooting and a shooting in Birmingham on the same day to push anti-firearm legislation.
"Mass shootings have become so frequent that we don't even hear about them anymore," Raskin said. "Since the mass shooting in Butler, there have already been at least 10 additional mass shootings here in America, two of which took place the same day that former president Trump was targeted."
He added, "One of the mass shootings on that violent Saturday, July 13, happened at 11 p.m. at a nightclub in Birmingham, Alabama, where four people were shot dead and 10 others wounded. This means amazingly that the Butler attack was not even the deadliest mass shooting to happen in America on that day."
Raskin said he specifically wants to see universal background checks on gun purchases, the closing of loopholes in personal gun sales and gun show sales and an AR-15 ban.
The FBI believes Crooks took his father's gun to use in the attack.
Cheatle said she does not plan to resign. However, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) was frustrated after Cheatle refused to answer many questions during Monday's hearing.
"If Director Cheatle isn't going to answer our questions, she should get started on her resignation letter," Moore stated on X.
If Director Cheatle isn't going to answer our questions, she should get started on her resignation letter. https://t.co/Ng4GojaaQT
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) July 22, 2024
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) grilled Cheatle in the hearing. When asked about the local law enforcement's involvement with other security teams, Cheatle said she was told there was a briefing between all agencies, but there has not been confirmation of that meeting. The exchange became tense after Palmer asked when Cheatle was made aware there was a credible threat against Trump.
"Sir, the former president has a number of threats," Cheatle answered.
"I didn't ask you that," Palmer continued. "There was a credible threat from a month. When were you informed of that? Answer the question."
"We have been monitoring the threats for the former president," Cheatle replied.
"You knew before the rally," Palmer interrupted. "Okay? Alright? The site security plan is generally drafted by the site supervisor and the site agent, who is probably out of the Pittsburg district office. Did they take into account the credible threat against Trump??
Cheatle said the Secret Service personnel did take the threats into account. Palmer still had questions about why no one was on the roof where the shooter was lying in wait.
"I mean, you could've put Barney Fife on the roof and kept somebody from getting up there," Palmer told Cheatle.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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