In a heated exchange at an Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) fiercely criticized Secret Service Director Kim Chettle, calling her a “DEI horror story.”
During the hearing, Burchett questioned Chatel because there were apparently no agents on the tin roof, a location from which he believed significant security threats could be monitored.
Butchert: Are there agents or officers in the building? If so, what level are they on?
fraud: Local police were present in the building.
Butchert: The roof looks like a tin roof. How come no one in that building heard anyone moving on the metal roof?
fraud: I don’t yet have details on all the interviews that have taken place.
Butchert: When will you have those?
fraud: I’ve been asking, and I hope you get this information soon too.
The Tennessee congressman criticized the Secret Service for not using drone technology or aerial surveillance during the rally.
Butchert: Why didn’t the Secret Service block the view of the rooftop?
fraud: I think the Secret Service had a plan and they counted the roof as part of their surveillance and that’s the plan they had that day.
Butchert: If you’re not going to have security on your rooftop, why not at least use drone technology or aerial surveillance to monitor the rally?
fraud: We do use drone technology a lot. I’m not talking specifically about this event and what was or wasn’t used. Sometimes drone technology can play a role and help at an event, but other times it’s not the right fit.
Rep. Burchett asked Cheatle if he uses the encrypted messaging app Signal for official communications.
Butchert: Do you personally use Signal to communicate with White House officials? Send a signal on your phone.
fraud: Oh, sometimes, I’m sure someone uses Signal. Yes. OK
Butchert: Do you use it to talk to the White House? Use signals?
fraud: no I do not.
The congressman’s most pointed criticism came when he asked Chatel why Trump was allowed on stage just 10 minutes after the Secret Service spotted a suspicious person. Burchett expressed doubts about the security breach, calling it “the worst thing that could happen.”
Butchert: When was Thomas Crooks first identified as a suspect? let me help you. At 5:10 he was spotted with a rangefinder at 5:51. When did the Secret Service notice him?
fraud: Again, I don’t have a specific timeline, but it’s a relatively short period of time.
Butchert: let me help you. 5:52. Ms. Chettle, why was President Trump allowed on stage 10 minutes after the Secret Service spotted a suspicious person? In my opinion, this is the worst thing. In all of this breakdown in communication, in all of the bullshit that you’re feeding us here today, or not feeding us. This seems to be a problem.
fraud: As I said before, there are many incidents where suspicious individuals may be spotted, but this doesn’t necessarily mean –
Butchert: Madam, I promise you, you have a man who will be the next President of the United States.
Butchert: He’s on stage. I’ve been to these events. We’ve all been to these events. A car backfired and we waited for 15 minutes. This is unacceptable. Did the Secret Service tell President Trump they spotted a suspicious person before he was shot?
fraud: I have no idea what the communications with the former president were at that time.
Butchert: Well, I’ll take that as a “no.”
Burchett followed up with questions, asking whether the Secret Service had declined any of Trump’s requests for additional security and whether any personnel had been moved from Trump’s event to Jill Biden’s rally. Chettle denies both accusations.
Recall that the Gateway Pundit reported that it turned out that the Secret Service decided to shift key resources to guarding Jill Biden’s campaign event in Pittsburgh instead of the 45th president’s rally. Both take place on Saturday
Two sources told Real Clear Politics’ Susan Crabtree that’s because they’re following the agency’s protocol of treating Trump as a former president. This is despite the fact that the “former president” is the frontrunner to be the next president of the United States and has the largest political following in the country. She also raises a key question: Who decided to divert these resources to Dr. Gill’s insignificant activities?
Butchert: Have you all rejected President Trump’s request for increased security, yes or no? When was the last time you asked for extra security?
fraud: Security requirements for the rally, all of which were met.
Burchett: Are people being moved to Jill Biden’s rally?
fraud: No.
Butchert: Who decides the direction of the agents at one of these rallies?
fraud: I’m not sure about your question about the direction of agents.
Burchett: I said, who directed those agents to go to Ms. Biden’s rally or President Trump’s rally, specifically the agents?
fraud: There is a way for agents to accept assignments and assign them based on geography, logistics or flights.
Burchett: Ma’am, I appreciate all of this, but it’s this approach that killed President Trump.
Butchert: Are the security personnel protecting President Trump temporary?
fraud: Personnel assigned to the former president were assigned to him.
Butchert: Why were the details of the convention’s opening night different from those that protected him in Pennsylvania?
fraud: The President is assigned a very large permanent protection team. They work shifts, so the person you see at the rally may not be working a shift that day—
Burchett: Madam, I can assure you that a man much shorter than the President was not present at the convention, and those behind the mass of Secret Service agents above the President were not in the chamber.
Butchert: At least I didn’t see them. Madam, you don’t seem to be able to answer any questions about the ongoing investigation, and I don’t know when this information will be made public. Are you waiting for the government to sign off?
fraud: No, I’m waiting for the results of the investigation, and then–
Burchett: Let me ask you one more question. You found explosives on the gunman. Is that right?
fraud: The FBI discovered the explosives.
Butchert: Do we know who directed this young man and how he made those explosives?
fraud: I believe the FBI is still investigating this.
During the heated exchange, Burchett argued that Chettle should be fired for what she saw as his failures. He dismissively called her a “DEI horror story,” implying that she was a poor example of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) action.
Butchert: Ms. Chettle, you said the responsibility rests with me, and I agree. I don’t think you should resign. I think she should be fired. Lady, you are a DEI horror story. I tell my daughter, my wife and my daughter many times, we talk to her all the time about how she is going to be successful in life. She will succeed by achieving. Madam, you have not achieved your goal today. You have failed the American public.
watch:
President Trump’s head nearly fell off his shoulders. Secret Service Director Chettle is the most unqualified, least remorseful person I have ever met. pic.twitter.com/saC37uMFdb
— Rep. Tim Burchett (@RepTimBurchett) July 22, 2024
