Sen. Blackburn calls for Secret Service director's removal following heated RNC encounter: "She must be held accountable"

The Secret Service director was demanded to be fired by Sen. Marsha Blackburn following her attempt to confront Kimberly Cheatle about the security breaches that resulted in the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

During "The Faulkner Focus," Blackburn, R-Tenn., revealed her confrontation with Cheatle at the RNC in Milwaukee and warned that she would be held accountable for the tragic shooting.

"Blackburn stated on Thursday that Harris Faulkner, "She has to provide these answers. She should be fired. She should have been fired Saturday night.""

On Wednesday, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Blackburn confronted Cheatle in a private suite at an event, questioning the decisions that led to the shooting at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

After Blackburn received a call alongside other lawmakers to brief them on the events leading up to the shooting, she decided to try to track Cheatle down at the event. She said that after the call was disconnected and she found out she was on site for the convention, she took matters into her own hands.

"Blackburn said, "And they cut the call and everyone was like, we need some answers.""

During the face-to-face confrontation, Cheatle stated that it was not suitable to discuss the matter in that location, but she was willing to respond to their questions before departing the suite.

The Secret Service stated that Cheatle is dedicated to maintaining transparency regarding the confrontation.

"U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is committed to leading the Secret Service through an internal investigation and strengthening the agency through lessons learned in important internal and external reviews."

Cheatle's priorities were misaligned that night, with a focus on donors over everyday Americans and President Trump, who are still seeking answers.

"It was astonishing that she was so comfortable in the luxury suite, hosting a cocktail party and thanking those who had funded security. However, Harris refused to answer questions for five minutes, and we were trying to get answers during the phone call. How could the Secret Service let President Donald Trump take the stage at 6:00, when they had identified a potential threat at 5:51? At 5:53, they alerted the spotters and sharpshooters, and then at 6:00, they cleared him to go on stage?"

""She is more focused on donors than the people of this country and the president, which reveals her priorities and tone-deafness," she stated."

On Saturday, Trump was shot in the ear, resulting in the death of one attendee and injuries to two others. The gunman was able to get close and fire off multiple shots, prompting questions from lawmakers and critics about how he managed to do so. Details have emerged of people seeing him climb up the building.

On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray conducted member-wide briefings with both the House and Senate to address lawmakers' questions and concerns. According to Barrasso, the meeting was a "100% cover-your-a—briefing."

Cheatle has agreed to comply with a subpoena from House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer. She has stated that the shooting was "unacceptable" and "something that shouldn’t happen again."

"As the director of the Secret Service, she stated to ABC News that it is her responsibility to ensure a review is conducted and resources are allocated to personnel as needed."

Criticism has been directed at her for her remarks regarding a "sloped roof" that posed a safety concern.

"We all deserve answers regarding the events that led to President Trump's shooting, including the taxpayers of this country, President Trump, and his team," Blackburn stated. "It is astonishing that someone could take a clean line of sight shot at President Trump, and it is only through God's divine intervention that he survived."

This report was contributed to by Liz Elkind, Adam Shaw, and Aishah Hasnie of Planet Chronicle.