Kimberly A. Cheatle, an American law enforcement officer, held multiple roles in the United States Secret Service for over twenty-seven years and served as its 27th director.
She was in charge of the Secret Service during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and resigned on July 23, 2024.
Highlights
- Kimberly Cheatle’s unmarried status has raised questions regarding her sexuality.
- Although she told ABC News that she wouldn’t resign, she resigned on July 23, 2024.
- Her brother’s tragic loss from an unfortunate accident made her choose a career in law enforcement.
Kimberly Cheatle graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a major in sociology and a concentration in criminal justice. In 1995, she joined the United States Secret Service.
She was involved in the evacuation of Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States, during the September 11 attacks.
She served as deputy assistant director in 2017 and became the first woman to serve as assistant director of Protective Operations.
President Joe Biden awarded her a Presidential Rank Award for exceptional performance in 2021 and announced her appointment as director of the United States Secret Service.
Kimberly Cheatle’s professional life overshadowed her personal life
The U.S. authorities are inspecting Kimberly Cheatle regarding Trump’s case, but netizens are more curious about her personal life. They have speculated that she might be lesbian.
A 54-year-old American law enforcement officer is still unmarried, prompting speculation to spread like wildfire.
BREAKING: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned pic.twitter.com/vh33OOUmsO
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 23, 2024
Netizens took it to X, previously known as Twitter, and discussed her sexuality and personal life.
One of the users, Jules, called her a ghost because, unlike the other five Secret Service directors, her personal biographies weren’t readily available.
Likewise, another user, American former nurse and author Juanita Broaddrick, tweeted,
Who is Kimberly Cheatle? Is she married or single. Is she gay? There’s absolutely nothing about her life and exactly who this woman is. Strange or I just can’t find it.
However, a user named A Regular Joe mentioned that she was openly gay and married to her wife.
Kimberly Cheatle has yet to address speculation regarding her sexuality. She has always been focused on her work and never talked about her husband and kids.
Kimberly Cheatle Acknowledged The Failure Of The Secret Service
The loss of Kimberly Cheatle’s brother from an unfortunate accident made her choose a career in law enforcement.
She was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the 2024 Republican National Convention during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
This is the single biggest roasting of Kimberly Cheatle, I witnessed all day, and there are some strong contenders.
— Emergent Perspective (@_emergent_) July 23, 2024
The negligence is 💥stunning💥, and she hasn't a single good answer.#KimberlyCheatle pic.twitter.com/4SvpH8YrH0
Kimberly faced criticism for her leadership failure in the Secret Service but told ABC News that she wouldn’t resign.
She defended herself, saying that local law enforcement was responsible for securing the building from which the shooter launched his attack.
However, Congressman Brendan Boyle and House Speaker Mike Johnson called her to resign.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called for new leadership at the agency on the same day.
On July 22, 2024, she testified before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and acknowledged it was the Secret Service’s most significant operational failure in decades.
Moreover, Kimberly confirmed that Rep. Shiela Jackson was involved in the Oversight of the Secret Service, but sadly, she lost her life 6 days after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Additional Information
- Kimberly Cheatle served as PepsiCo’s senior director of global security from 2019 to 2022. Her net worth is estimated at $10 million as of 2024.
- She was born and raised in Hinsdale, Illinois, and studied at Schlarman High School in Danville.
- She served as special agent in charge of the Grand Rapids, Michigan, office.
