MTG to Secret Service Dir.: ‘Was There a Conspiracy to Kill President Trump?’

Taylor Greene: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Cheatle, I’d like to remind you that you’re under oath. The site team has a senior supervisor and advance team, a protective intelligence team, a coutner-sniper element and detail. Who was the agent in charge? How long has she been the agent in charge? And what is her Secret Service background?”
CHEATLE: “So, I’m not gonna provide a name — “
Taylor Greene: “Why not? You’re here to answer our questions.”
CHEATLE: “In this form, I’m not gonna provide names — “
Taylor Greene: “You stated in your testimony, you said, ‘I am here today to answer your questions.’”
CHEATLE: “That is correct.”
Taylor Greene: “Answer the question.”
CHEATLE: “I’m not going to provide names of our personnel today.”
Taylor Greene: “Why not? The American people are demanding these answers from you today, Ms. Cheatle.”
CHEATLE: “I will do the best to provide you accurate information based on the facts that I have at this time.”
Taylor Greene: “You’re not answering our questions. The advance element coordinates with other intel or law enforcement partners, identifies threats and weaknesses at the sites and movements. We’d like a copy of the advance report. Have you brought it here with you today?”
CHEATLE: “We will comply with the request for the documentation that has been requested.”
Taylor Greene: “When will that be, Ms. Cheatle? ‘Cause you should have brought it today.”
CHEATLE: “I am certain that our personnel are working on obtaining all of that documentation.”
Taylor Greene: “I don’t believe you, and neither do the people watching this hearing. You’re not doing well, as Mr. Moskowitz informed you. You have been sitting here for over three hours, and I’ll have you know, the entire country is demanding you resign and demanding that you be fired if you do not resign. Things are not going well for you. You need to answer the questions. Was there a protective intelligence team and what technical resources were utilized for that event, specifically drone or helicopter assets?”
CHEATLE: “There were a number of technical assets that were deployed for that event, and there was a protective intelligence team that was assigned to that event.”
Taylor Greene: “Why was Crooks able to fly a drone over the entire area the day of the rally and the day of his assassination attempt?”
CHEATLE: “To my knowledge, he did not fly the drone over the entire area.”
Taylor Greene: “How did he fly a drone over the area, period? Any part of the area.”
CHEATLE: “Again, I would have to go back and check the timeline of when that took place and when the event — “
Taylor Greene: “Why didn’t you bring the timeline with you today to answer our questions?”
CHEATLE: “I don’t have all of the answers on the timelines based on the criminal investigation.”
Taylor Greene: “Were you not prepared today to answer our questions?”
CHEATLE: “I am prepared to answer the questions based on the information and wanted to be able to provide — “
Taylor Greene: “Do you have a timeline that you — do you have a timeline at all from any of the day?”
CHEATLE: “I have a timeline that does not have specifics.”
Taylor Greene: “That’s shocking. That is absolutely unacceptable. That means you’re a failure at your job. Let’s talk about things that are prohibited in Trump rallies — and I’ve been to a lot of Trump rallies. Backpacks and bags. Bicycles. Firearms. Any type of weapon or any other item determined to be a potential safety hazard, like a rangefinder would be one. At 5:10, Crooks is first observed by one of the snipers, HER Sniper-1 at the building. 5:10. 5:10. President Trump was shot in the face at 6:11 P.M.. 5:28, HER Sniper-1 takes a picture of a bicycle and two bags. Those belong to Crooks. 5:32, HER Sniper-1 spots Crooks looking at his phone and using a rangefinder. 5:55, Butler ESU Command confirms receipt of photos and states they have been relayed on. 6:05 P.M., HER Sniper-1 later communicates that Crooks is seen moving northeast in direction of sheets, and that Crooks has a backpack. Two minutes before the shooting, while President Trump has been allowed to take the stage, people see Crooks laying on his stomach in a sniper position on the roof, and they’re yelling he has a gun and they are trying to alert law enforcement and Secret Service. Why was Crooks not shot by the snipers? Why was he allowed to be there?”
CHEATLE: “As soon as the individual was identified as a threat, they were — “
Taylor Greene: “No, no, no, no, no. What do you consider to be a threat, a man with a gun laying in a sniper position? A man that had a backpack? A man that had a bicycle? A man that had a rangefinder? At what point was he determined a threat?”
CHEATLE: “An individual with a backpack is not a threat. An individual with a rangefinder is not a threat.”
Taylor Greene: “What about a man laying on a building that has direct line of sight of President Trump with a gun, that people are screaming and pointing out? Is that a threat, Ms. Cheatle?”
CHEATLE: “Once that individual was identified, they were neutralized.”
Taylor Greene: “No, they were neutralized — Crooks was neutralized after he shot President Trump in the face, Ms. Cheatle. Is the only a threat once he fires the weapon?”
CHEATLE: “As soon as the counter-sniper identified that individual, they were able to neutralize them.”
Taylor Greene: “How are people in the crowd — okay, then let’s just take it this way. People under your command did not consider him to be a threat, yet people in the crowd knew he had a gun and considered him to be a threat. That means that you are a complete failure as the director of the Secret Service, that people under your command don’t perceive a man laying on a roof with direct line to the president with a gun, they don’t perceive that to be a threat, yet the people in the crowd do. How is that possible?”
Comer: “That’s the last question, but please answer the question, Ms. Director.”
CHEATLE: “I’m not certain at this time how the information from the people in the crowd was relayed to any law enforcement personnel.”
Taylor Greene: “No, you knew that everyone knew. The people there knew that there was a danger, they knew there was a threat to President Trump, and it was allowed to happen. Was there a stand down order, Ms. Cheatle? Was there a conspiracy to kill President Trump?”
CHEATLE: “Absolutely not.”
Taylor Greene: “Then how did this happen? And why are you still sitting here not turning in your letter of resignation?”
Comer: “Last question. Please answer and then I’ll recognize Ms. Pressley. Please answer the question.”
CHEATLE: “That is what we’re investigating to determine.”
Taylor Greene: “We’re waiting for your letter. We are waiting for your letter of resignation, and you you really need to consider doing that before you leave today.”
Comer: “Thank you. Chair now recognizes Ms. Pressley.”