Staff Reports
In a display of what can only be described as rare and desperate bipartisanship, the heads of the House Oversight Committee found an unlikely opportunity to chuckle over the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. This resignation came hot on the heels of bipartisan outrage that emerged after the Secret Service’s apparent failure to protect former President Trump during a questionable rally, perhaps indicating that the charm of bipartisan camaraderie is only invoked when egregious lapses in national security take center stage.
Cheatle’s resignation was announced less than two weeks after a chilling attempted assassination against Trump that sent shockwaves across the political spectrum. The failed security measures left more than a few feathers ruffled—Republicans and Democrats alike expressed their discontent with the Secret Service’s inability to keep a former president safe. As the political elite descended upon a hearing about prescription drug markets, it was clear that there were bigger fish to fry in Washington.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer made the announcement about Cheatle’s exit while putting the hearing into recess. His Democrat counterpart, Rep. Jamie Raskin, apparently found the victims of the Secret Service’s incompetence humorous enough to shout how “great” their handling of the situation was—because nothing quite says effective oversight like a hearing extending into laughter when lives were at stake. They both even managed to draft a joint letter calling for Cheatle’s resignation, a commendable act of bipartisanship that momentarily united them against a common enemy—poor performance.
.@RepRaskin and @RepJamesComer joke about bipartisanship pushing Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign https://t.co/aAj0zCU49K
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 24, 2024
No one can deny that it was a rather peculiar sight to behold: two representatives from opposite sides of the aisle bonding over the notion that they might never have expected to find common ground in their shared desire for a competent administration. The duo even joked about what other letters they could sign together, inadvertently illustrating the absurdity of their temporary alliance. Maybe they should stick to letters; it seems their bargaining power is more effective on paper than in real-life scenarios.
However, let’s not kid ourselves. This charter of unity comes with a rather regrettable caveat. It only surfaces when matters of national security are compromised, revealing the shocking reality that bipartisanship often resembles a game played by politicians when the stakes involve their safety or that of others. One can only hope that this fleeting moment of conciliatory spirit translates into actual improvements in the security sector rather than another pithy remark for the history books. As for the American public waiting for accountability? Perhaps they’ll also find comfort in knowing that Congress may be more interested in signing letters than in genuinely addressing their concerns.
