Secret Service Director Botches Simple Question About Sloped Roofs: VIDEO
Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle continues to make foolish comments about sloped roofs.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to get on a completely unguarded roof at a Butler, PA rally and fire multiple shots at former President Donald Trump. One shot hit Trump in the ear, and three people attending the rally were struck by gunfire, including one who died.
Why wasn't the roof Crooks took his very easy shots from secured with people on it? Cheatle claimed after the shooting it was because of a slight slope.
That building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point. And so, you know, there's a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn't want to put somebody up on a sloped roof. And so, you know, the decision was made to secure the building, from inside," Cheatle told ABC News.
Now, she seems intent on running around in circles on the topic.
Kimberly Cheatle won't give clear answer on sloped roofs.
Cheatle testified in front of a congressional committee Monday to get answers about how the Trump shooting happened. You'd think she'd have a rock solid answer on the sloped roof situation. You'd be wrong. She botched it.
"I should have been more clear in my answer when I spoke about where we place personnel in that interview. What I can tell you is that there was a plan in place to provide overwatch, and we are still looking into responsibilities and who was going to provide overwatch. But, the Secret Service in general - not speaking specifically to this incident - when we are providing overwatch, whether that be through counter snipers or other technology, prefer to have sterile rooftops," Cheatle responded when asked point-blank by Congressman James Comer if it's "normal" to not put people on slanted roofs.
Did you get all that? Instead of answering the question, she danced around it without just admitting her sloped roof claim is outrageous.
Watch the moment unfold below, and then let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
This is why all the information must be made public. She's not answering a very simple question about roofs and slopes. For those of you who might have missed it, I spoke with three former Tier One operators about whether or not sloped roofs are safe - like the roof supporting the counter sniper team there. All three said the Secret Service's claim you can't have people on a sloped roof is insane.
"No, that’s stupid, of course you can. It may be a little more difficult, but you always put them on the highest ground possible. We call those non-standard shooting positions. There’s ways to set up on anything. Helicopter, angled roof, hell a f*cking tree if you needed," former SEAL Team 6 sniper Chris Fettes told me when reacting to Cheatle's sloped roof claim.
The USSS director should just come out and admit her initial comment made no sense and was 100% incorrect. Instead, she's choosing to give the public a word salad that accomplishes nothing.
![](http://images.outkick.com/static.outkick.com/www.outkick.com/content/uploads/2024/07/668/376/GettyImages-2161339333-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The man who shot Donald Trump was able to gain access to a roof with a clear line of sight. (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images)
What do you think about the Secret Service's sloped roof claim and failures when Trump got shot? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.