Pat's Peeps Podcast
Ep. 118 Today's Peep Tackles Secret Service Director's Congressional Showdown, Trump Rally Security Fiasco, Takes a Walk in the Heat, and Celebrates a Vice President's Musical Milestone
What happens when a Secret Service Director faces the heat of congressional scrutiny, and how does it relate to a near-catastrophic security lapse at a Trump rally? Join me as I cautiously return to physical activity after a hip flexor injury, and reflect on a series of recent, high-stakes hearings. As I traverse the scenic foothills on a scorching day, I offer an intimate glimpse into the contentious interrogation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheadle, her agency's transparency issues, and the broader implications for American security.
On this walk, we also explore the dramatic aftermath of the Trump rally incident, where an attempted assassination exposed critical vulnerabilities within the Secret Service. Hear the intense questioning from Congress members, their demands for Director Cheadle's resignation, and the glaring gaps in the agency's preparedness. The episode doesn't shy away from tough questions about the adequacy of protection for high-profile figures in today's volatile political landscape.
To balance the heavy themes, we celebrate a lighter moment in music history with Tommy Edwards' timeless hit "It’s All in the Game." Relive the triumph of Edwards as the first African-American artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, and appreciate the enduring power of love and music. From personal recovery to national security, and a historical musical milestone, this episode covers a spectrum of reflections and revelations. Join me for an insightful journey that promises to keep you engaged from beginning to end.
What happens when a Secret Service Director faces the heat of congressional scrutiny, and how does it relate to a near-catastrophic security lapse at a Trump rally? Join me as I cautiously return to physical activity after a hip flexor injury, and reflect on a series of recent, high-stakes hearings. As I traverse the scenic foothills on a scorching day, I offer an intimate glimpse into the contentious interrogation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheadle, her agency's transparency issues, and the broader implications for American security.
On this walk, we also explore the dramatic aftermath of the Trump rally incident, where an attempted assassination exposed critical vulnerabilities within the Secret Service. Hear the intense questioning from Congress members, their demands for Director Cheadle's resignation, and the glaring gaps in the agency's preparedness. The episode doesn't shy away from tough questions about the adequacy of protection for high-profile figures in today's volatile political landscape.
To balance the heavy themes, we celebrate a lighter moment in music history with Tommy Edwards' timeless hit "It’s All in the Game." Relive the triumph of Edwards as the first African-American artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, and appreciate the enduring power of love and music. From personal recovery to national security, and a historical musical milestone, this episode covers a spectrum of reflections and revelations. Join me for an insightful journey that promises to keep you engaged from beginning to end.
music. Well, here I am out on the road on a very hot day doing something that I probably should not be doing, quite frankly. I hope it's not a mistake, but it's been a while since I've been able to really walk at a brisk pace certainly not jog or anything after my unfortunate mishap on May 17th that I described in an earlier Pat's Peeps podcast, when I was just trying to help someone and I ended up trying to push a flatbed truck, which was ridiculous, and I injured myself. So for a while there I couldn't even bend over. I really hurt my hip. I didn't know what was going on. It turned out it was a hip flexor, as they describe the hip flexor. That's exactly how it's bent. Sorry, if you hear that paper in the background. I just realized I was doing that.
Speaker 1:So here I am today, as I say, doing something I don't know if I should be doing. I'm going to try to take a walk because I miss it. You know I've got to. You have to stay in shape and I've been so busy trying to do these podcasts and producing the podcast and then my show, of course, monday through Friday on KFPK, that I have not. Between that and the injury, I have not been able to get good workouts in, so today I'm trying to get back at it. I picked a really hot day. Of course Every day's been hot, so the issue is, the scary, unpredictable part is I don't know how far I can walk, and then if it starts to act up, then of course I'm stuck. I got to turn around and limp all the way back, but it's getting better. I've got to turn around and limp all the way back, but it's getting better. I just don't want to be caught off guard, if you know what I mean. So we'll see how it goes. But yeah, it's hot getting this done.
Speaker 1:So just a couple of thoughts here today. Just a couple of thoughts here today. The congressional hearings on what's your name is escaping me right now, cheadle for the director of the Secret Service are very, very entertaining. So I'm going to play that for you. Today's going to be a bit different of a podcast. What are we at? 118 now, I think this is 118. Generally I start off saying I'm looking out my studio window into the beautiful foothills of Northern California. So today is Pat's Peeps Podcast, 118. Oh, there's a train coming. Let's listen to the train here. I don't know if you can hear that in the background.
Speaker 2:Pausing workout.
Speaker 1:Oh, and you might even hear my little app telling me that I'm pausing my workout for a second or resuming my workout.
Speaker 3:Resuming workout.
Speaker 1:So the train is right by my home here. It's 22nd of July and instead of telling you, I'm looking out my studio windows in the foothills. I'm walking, as I mentioned, in the foothills. So hot probably I don't know, it's not as hot as it's been maybe 90s. First thing I'm going to say is over the weekend, on Saturday, I'm big enough man man to admit when I was wrong, when I am wrong, on my show, on the Pat Walsh, on my radio show for those of you who know that I'm the host of my own show at KFBK, heard nationally and internationally on the free iHeart app I made some predictions the other night, but I prefaced it by saying look, what do I know?
Speaker 1:I'm not. You know, I'm not Kreskin. To those of you who actually remember who Kreskin is, my first prediction came wrong. I was wrong. I want to hear the Price is Right, loser horn.
Speaker 1:Anyhow, I just thought for certain Biden would stay in the race. He'd tell them to pound sand. Schumer and those guys, you know I should have known better. I mean these Pelosi and them Obama. Behind the scenes they just push this whole agenda. I mean, we've seen what's gone on for years now Newsom and all, so it really doesn't surprise me that they'd find a way to push as I go through the train trestle here. Wow, it's been a while since I've been in here to push Biden out or pressure him out. It's interesting. Oh, here comes a car you don't want to be in the train trestle, hear it With a car coming. So they I don't know what they did in there. Are they painted the inside of that train trestle? Whatever?
Speaker 1:Anyhow, I just thought Biden would tell them hey, pound sand. That's no joke. Hey, I tell them to pound sand. I used to pound sand. I used to be the biggest sand pounder. It's no joke, man. Come on, man. We stopped COVID Felonies. I got hairy legs.
Speaker 1:I thought he'd say hey, look, I made the promise to the American people. These people voted for me. You know, and instantly you know, they say well, kamala Harris, god forbid, sorry. I mean, look, here's the problem when you get into politics, some of you are going to hate some of the stuff I say, some of you are going to like it. It's kind of a no-win. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to turn around. I'm feeling the hip a little bit. I'm going to do. I'm going to turn around. I'm feeling the hip a little bit. I'm going to turn around, go the other way and get a little closer to my house. It's not hurting too bad, but I'm feeling a little bit here, testing it, covering politics as much as I have lately. It's kind of hard to avoid it, just like that bug that just flew into my head. Kind of hard to avoid.
Speaker 1:Generally my show and my podcast neither one are political, unless I get kicked off about something and I feel the need to say something, but it's been very politically heavy if I just said that, right, so probably more tonight, because obviously you can't go back to work on a Monday and have events like that take place and then go on the air and ask your listeners what their favorite brand of ice cream is. I guess I could actually you'd be surprised. I'd be surprised. I actually my listeners would be like you know what? Yeah, oh, hell, yeah, you know what. That actually sounds more appealing than this political stuff. I get that. That's just. That's generally the way I lead too. However, this certainly has the, shall we say, integrity. That's not the right word. It's important. It's important for the country. But man, that's what I was going to say earlier.
Speaker 1:These congressional hearings for this, for the leader of the Secret Service, cheadle man, these have been. I mean, that's the first time I've seen bipartisan support for a cause. It's the first time I've seen it in a while. And, man, are they asking the right questions? I find myself going are you kidding me? Are you serious? You can't answer that question. I mean, this is very, very troubling, I mean, and the fact that you have bipartisan support for this really says a lot. But it's only common sense. You know, you have someone allowed to get away with trying to assassinate former President Trump. Well, obviously no one wants that. No one in their right mind. No one wants to see a retaliation.
Speaker 1:As much as I am not a fan of what's happening with Democrats right now and some of the things with Republicans, let me be fair. I'll be honest about that, about the whole damn thing. But it doesn't matter. I don't want to see any shot. That's not the way. That's not how we elect people, that's not. I mean, that's not how we run our business politically. I mean not not elect people. But excuse me, I got to stop getting heat stroke by saying that. That's not what I meant. Hold on Pause. Guys will say pause and workout, but that's not the way we conduct. Pause and workout, thank you. That's not the way we conduct pause and workout thank you.
Speaker 1:That's not the way we conduct business politically or any other way in this country, but it's a shame that other people in other countries see that as that's what americans do. It's all about gun violence, cowboys and just the old west and taking the matters into your own hands. All right, let me take a walk here again. So, anyhow, so a lot of politics lately. I'm sure we'll do that again tonight. Let's see what else is on. What else is going on?
Speaker 1:Oh, I have to say it was very fun and a completely different thing to give my brother Jim a really bad time yesterday to watch my Dodgers thank you very much sweep his beloved Red Sox showing who the superior team was and is.
Speaker 1:So my brother and I have had this rivalry going forever American League versus National League the real league, in my opinion. Forever American League versus National League the real league, in my opinion. And the only response he could do yesterday was yeah, they're selling ice creams for $20. Yeah, just like the Giants are right now, and probably every other club, and not to mention how many other teams Shohei could have signed with, but chose the Dodgers, including the Giants and the Blue Jays and others, not to mention, you know the farm system for the Dodgers, including three straight rookies of the year just recently. You know, when you make people like Justin Turner and Max Muncy and Chris Taylor and some of these other guys stars who are riding the pine with other teams tells you a lot about the organization as a whole. The American League has won 10 out of 11 of the All-Star Games which, let's face it, aren't what they used to be Used to be for pride Pause and workout.
Speaker 1:So it's saying pause and workout again there, whoo-wee and what else here. Before I get to, I want to play some of these clips today from the congressional hearing regarding Director Cheadle of the Secret Service, because they're fascinating. A reminder to anyone who's listening we're going to Ireland September 5th to the 15th, conservative Tours, and we have about six seats that now became available. If anyone listening would like to join us for Ireland, I am your host, along with Conservative Tours and Ken Chase, please go to conservativetourscom or call me or get a hold of me or whatever. Call me even at the radio station at KFBK. Whatever you need to do, let's get six or seven people signed up to join us in Ireland.
Speaker 1:Did I say Ireland? I hope? I said Ireland, not Italy. I just came back from Italy twice with them and then, prior to that, germany and Austria and France. Been on many trips with these guys. They're just fantastic. Has nothing to do with politics, by the way. So anyhow, conservativetourscom, alright, let's play some of the sound bite from the congressional hearing regarding Secret Service performance under the Director.
Speaker 4:Cheadle, I have to say, director, we're pretty close to the halfway point. During this you answered more questions with an ABC reporter than you have with members of Congress. We have a lot more questions. The American people are demanding that we get answers to those questions, and that's what the purpose of this hearing is today. So I'm sure a lot of the questions that have already been asked are going to be asked again, again, and hopefully we can get some answers to those questions. I strongly implore you to answer those questions. You're here with a subpoena and we expect you to answer the questions. Chair now recognizing Ms Mace from South Carolina.
Speaker 6:Thank you, mr Chairman. Director Cheadle, the American people are watching and they're wondering if there are any questions you can answer honestly today. So, director Chito, I have a series of questions, very specific questions. I want very specific answers. Most of my questions are going to demand a yes or no answer. Do you understand? I do, okay, my first question. Both sides of the aisle today have asked for your resignation. Would you like to use my five minutes to draft your resignation letter, yes or no?
Speaker 7:No, thank you.
Speaker 6:Was this a colossal failure? It was a failure, yes or no. Was it a colossal failure? Is the question yes or no?
Speaker 7:I have admitted this is a terrible.
Speaker 6:This is a yes or no series of questions. Was this a colossal failure? Yes or no? I have admitted this is a tear. This is a yes or no series of questions. Was this a colossal failure? Yes or no? Yes, was this tragedy preventable? Yes or no? Yes, has a Secret Service been transparent with this committee? Yes, would you say the fact that we had to issue a subpoena to get you to show up today as being transparent, yes or no? I have always been eager to come and talk to the committee. Yes or no, you didn't want to answer the question. We had to issue a subpoena to get you to show up today. That is not transparent. By the way, you stated earlier, secret Service is not political. Is that correct? Yes, okay, would you say leaking your opening statement to Punchbowl News, politico's playbook and Washington Post several hours before you sent it to this committee as being political? Yes or no?
Speaker 7:I have no idea how my statement got out.
Speaker 6:Well, that's bullshit. So, mr Chairman, I would like to ask unanimous consent to enter into the record articles by Punchbowl News, political Playbook, washington Post, all done at 5.24 am, 6.12 am. 6.34 am a solid three to four hours before this committee got your statement.
Speaker 4:Without objection to order.
Speaker 6:Okay, is the Secret Service fully cooperating with our committee?
Speaker 7:Yes.
Speaker 6:Okay. You say you're fully cooperating with this committee. On July 15th, this committee sent you a list of demands of information that we wanted. Has the Secret Service provided this committee a complete list of all law enforcement personnel that were there that day? Have you done that? Have you provided a list to the Oversight Committee? Yes or no? I'll have to get back to you on that. That is a no. Have you provided all audio and video recordings in your possession to this committee, as we asked on July 15th? Yes or no? I would have to get back to you on that. That is a no.
Speaker 1:You're full of shit. Today you know you have to testify in front of Congress at a hearing nine days after the fact and you're saying I'll have to get back to you on that, as if you did no homework. I'll have to get back to you on that. I'm not really sure.
Speaker 6:You're just being completely dishonest.
Speaker 2:Mr Chairman, Mr Chairman, I want to. Mr Chairman, come on we have to maintain decorum in this committee, no matter how upset we get. Have you provided any and?
Speaker 6:all memos to this committee that we've asked you on July 15th. Have you provided all memorandums within the Secret Service? I All memorandums within the Secret Service. I would have to get back to you on that that is a no. You are being dishonest or lying. You're being dishonest here with this committee.
Speaker 1:How would you not know if you provided all the documents and everything they're asking for when you're at the hearing? Why would you not know? I'll have to get back to you on that.
Speaker 6:These are important questions that the American people want answers to and you're just dodging and talking around it in generalities and we had to subpoena you to be here and you won't even answer the questions. We have asked you repeatedly to answer our questions. This isn't hard. These are not hard questions. Have you provided us all communications from the Secret Service related to that day and that rally? Have you provided this to me? We've asked for this information on July 15th. Have you provided any of this information that this committee has asked of the Secret Service?
Speaker 1:Any of it Can't wait to hear.
Speaker 6:I'll have to get back to you?
Speaker 7:Have you even read?
Speaker 1:I'll have to get back to you at a later date other than the hearing, to let you know whether I got back to you already.
Speaker 6:This letter that we sent you Did? I got back to you already this letter that we sent you. Did you even read this? Yes, okay, and you have said you don't know, you have no idea. The answer is no. We haven't gotten a single document or piece of information or data from you.
Speaker 1:Did you send us any documentation? I'll have to get back to you on that, like what's the proper, what day is a good day for us to get back to you? That you'll get back to you on that, like, what's the proper, what day is a good day for us to get back to you or that you'll get back to us? Is it nine days before a congressional hearing?
Speaker 6:agency in related to the rally that we have asked you for. So um is this, was uh this uh attempted assassination of donald trump, a failure of training or execution?
Speaker 7:or both. I think that those are answers that we need to examine.
Speaker 6:Training, execution, or both which one.
Speaker 7:I think those are answers, all right.
Speaker 6:How many secret service personnel have lost their jobs due to this colossal failure?
Speaker 7:At this time none.
Speaker 6:How many secret service personnel have been required to take a refresher course on how not to let people shoot Donald Trump?
Speaker 7:Our personnel are currently operational. We are examining the facts of this investigation and we will make the changes necessary.
Speaker 6:What time did law enforcement become aware that there was an individual on the roof with a clear line of sight to President Trump?
Speaker 7:I am still verifying timelines Verifying You're still verifying.
Speaker 1:She's about to say it Nine days later. I'm interrupting. She's still verifying Nine days later.
Speaker 6:Of course, nine days in, you have no answers. How many minutes went by between the time law enforcement saw and took photos of crooks and the shooting? How many minutes? I am still verifying Fifteen-seven minutes.
Speaker 1:Everyone knows, except the director Kimberly Cheadle. Everyone else knows, but not the director of the Secret Service.
Speaker 6:Thank you, Mr Chairman, and I yield back.
Speaker 4:Gentlelady yields back. Before I recognize Ms Stansbury, I believe I want to recognize Mr Mfume, for Well, let's move on to another one.
Speaker 1:You know you get nervous when they're about to introduce Marjorie Taylor Greene and she's going to grill you next.
Speaker 4:Chair now recognizes Ms Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia.
Speaker 2:Thank you, mr Chairman. Ms Cheadle, I'd like to remind you that you're under oath. The site team has a senior supervisor, an advanced team, a protective intelligence team, a counter 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?
Speaker 7:So I'm not going to provide a name.
Speaker 2:Why not? You're here to answer our questions forum. I'm not gonna provide names of you. Stated in your testimony you said I am here today to answer your questions.
Speaker 7:That is correct answer the question, I'm not gonna provide names of our personnel why not today?
Speaker 2:the American people are demanding these answers from you.
Speaker 7:today, ms Cheadle, I will do the best to provide you accurate information based on the facts that I have at this time.
Speaker 1:You're not answering our questions. I wish I had more facts. It's only been nine days, but at this time I don't only have so many facts. Forget about all the videos, all the surveillance that we've seen of the guys scouting the place. Oh my God, it gets better.
Speaker 2: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, we?
Speaker 7:will comply with the request for the documentation that has been requested.
Speaker 1:On our own timetable. Thank you, I know we were ordered to, but Will that be, Ms Cheadle?
Speaker 2:Because you should have brought it today.
Speaker 7:Right. I am certain that our personnel are working on. We got people working on that, bob?
Speaker 1:did you get that? Did you? Bob? Did you get that, did you? Bob? Did you get a copy of that? Sorry, we're still working. Oh yeah, oh yeah, the testimony was today, obtaining all of that document.
Speaker 2:I don't believe you, and neither do the people watching this hearing. You're not doing well, as Mr Moskowitz informed you. You've been sitting here for over three hours and I 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?
Speaker 7: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. Why?
Speaker 2:was Crooks able to fly a drone over the entire area the day of the rally and the day of his assassination attempt?
Speaker 7:Great question To my knowledge he did not fly the drone over the entire area.
Speaker 2:How did he fly a drone over the area period, any part of the area?
Speaker 7:Again, I would have to go back and check the timeline. Yeah, I got to check the timeline.
Speaker 1:You know the timeline that I'm the director of the Secret Service. You know the timeline that everyone else is already aware of except me, apparently on the day of the hearing, or nine days later of when that took place and when the event?
Speaker 7:why?
Speaker 2:didn't you bring the timeline with?
Speaker 7:you today to answer our questions exactly.
Speaker 1:I don't have all of the, I had to go shopping. Your, uh, your honor. Well, no, it's not your honor.
Speaker 7:Um well, my cousin was coming over and on the timelines based on the criminal investigation Were you not prepared today to answer our questions? Well, I am prepared to answer the questions based on the information and wanted to be able to provide.
Speaker 2:Do you have a timeline that you? Do you have a timeline at?
Speaker 1:all Next Wednesday work for you From any of About 4 pm the day Uh-huh, next Wednesday.
Speaker 2:Work for you from, from any of 4 pm the day I have a timeline that does not have specifics. That's shocking. That is absolutely unacceptable yeah, it is.
Speaker 1:Listen again to that. And listen to people laughing. She says she has timeline but she doesn't have specifics and listen to the reaction.
Speaker 2:That is absolutely unacceptable.
Speaker 1:Let me go back a little bit here.
Speaker 7:I have a timeline that does not have specifics, that's shocking.
Speaker 2:That is absolutely unacceptable. That means you are 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 range finder, would be one At 5.10,. Crooks is first observed by one of the snipers, agr Sniper 1, at the building 5.10, 5.10,. President Trump was shot in the face at 6.11 pm.
Speaker 1:Isn't that amazing that Cheadle has no specific timelines, uh, specific moments on her timeline. But you had Marjorie Taylor Greene and everyone else does 528.
Speaker 2:Agr sniper one takes a picture of a bicycle and two bags. Those belong to cro. Agr Sniper 1 spots Crooks looking at his phone and using a range finder. 555, butler ESU Command confirms receipt of photos and states they have been relayed on. 605 PM. Agr Sniper 1 later communicates that Crooks is seen moving northeast in direction of Sheetz and that Crooks has a backpack.
Speaker 1:Jeez.
Speaker 2: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 a snooper, by the snipers? Why was he allowed to be there?
Speaker 7:as soon as the individual was identified as a threat. Oh, they were.
Speaker 2: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 range finder? At what point is he determined a threat?
Speaker 7:An individual with a backpack is not a threat.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Wow, I mean, honestly, I'm simply I don't know about you, I'm blown away by this so disappointed.
Speaker 2:This is really, really, really pathetic an individual with a range finder is not a threat oh my god 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 miss?
Speaker 7:cheetle. Once that individual was identified, they were neutralized.
Speaker 2:Oh my no, they were neutralized oh my crooks was neutralized after he shot president trump in the face thank you.
Speaker 1:Once he was identified, he was neutralized. The man had already killed another individual, shot a couple of others and shot the former president in the ear.
Speaker 2:This is Miss Cheadle, is he only a threat once he fires the weapon? Wow.
Speaker 7:As soon as the counter-sniper identified that individual, they were able to neutralize them.
Speaker 2:How were 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, wow?
Speaker 4:That's the last question, but please answer the question, Ms Director. Yeah, please.
Speaker 7:I'm not certain at this time how the information from the people in the crowd was relayed to any law enforcement personnel.
Speaker 2: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 Cheadle? Was there a conspiracy to kill President Trump? Absolutely not. Then how did this happen and why are you still sitting here, not turning in your letter of resignation?
Speaker 4:Last question, but please answer and then I'll recognize Ms Presley. Please answer the question.
Speaker 7:That is what we are investigating to determine.
Speaker 1:That's what they're investigating.
Speaker 2:We're waiting for your letter. We're waiting for your letter of resignation, and you really need to consider doing that before you leave today thank you, chair.
Speaker 1:No recognizance personally listen, I agree with marjorie taylor green, absolutely with everyone.
Speaker 4:Bipartisan, everyone agrees on this I have to hear more here, so here's the chairman of the house judiciary committee, mr jordan, everyone agrees on this. I have to hear more here, so here's the Chairman of the House Judiciary.
Speaker 8:Committee Mr Jordan from. Jim Jordan. Thank you, mr Chairman Director. Were you guessing or lying? I'll let him in.
Speaker 4:Mr Jordan from Ohio.
Speaker 8:Thank you, mr Chairman. Director, were you guessing or lying? The day after President Trump is shot, secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said quote the assertion that a member of the former president's security team requested additional security resources that the US Secret Service or the Department of Homeland Security rebuffed is absolutely false. The next day, secretary Mayorkas said that is an unequivocally false assertion. We had not received any request for additional security measures. That were rebuffed. But five days later the Washington Post said this top officials repeatedly rejected requests from Donald Trump's security detail for more personnel. The next day, the New York Times said this Mr Guglielmi acknowledged that the Secret Service had turned down some request for additional federal security assets for Mr Trump's detail. So which is it? Because both statements can't be true. Were you guessing or lying when you said you didn't turn down requests from President Trump's detail?
Speaker 7:Neither, sir, and I appreciate the question.
Speaker 8:But what were you doing? Because those statements don't jive.
Speaker 7:So what I can tell you is that for the event in Butler there were no requests that were denied. As far as requests.
Speaker 8:Well, maybe they got tired of asking. Maybe you turned them down so darn much. They said not worth asking. How many times did you turn them down ahead of that?
Speaker 7:I think that it is important to distinguish between what some people may view as a denial of an asset or a request.
Speaker 8:Well, is Mr Guglielmi, your spokesperson. He said he acknowledged the Secret Service had turned down some requests. I'm asking how many?
Speaker 7:A denial of a request does not equal a vulnerability. Well, tell me what it is. There are a number of ways that threats and risks can be mitigated, with a number of different assets, whether that be through personnel, whether that be through technology or other resources.
Speaker 8:Well, tell the committee which it was. They asked for additional help in some form or another. You told them no. How many times did you tell them no? And what did you tell them no to?
Speaker 7:Again, I cannot speak to specific incidents, but I can tell you in general terms. The Secret Service is judicious with their resources, based on what does some request mean?
Speaker 8:How many times Some indicate request is plural, so more than once they asked for additional help and you turned them down what they asked for, and how many times Some indicate requests is plural, so more than once they asked for additional help and you turned them down. What they asked for and how many times you turn them down, pretty basic questions.
Speaker 7:So, again, without having all of the details in front of me, sir, what I can tell you is that there are times you didn't get briefed on how many times you turned down the Trump detail when they asked for additional help?
Speaker 8:I'm sorry you didn't get briefed on that before you came to this hearing, knowing you were going to get asked that question.
Speaker 7:What I can tell you is that, in generic terms, when people, when details, make a request, there are times that there are alternate ways to cover off on that threat or that risk.
Speaker 8:But that's not what he said. He said they were denied certain requests, some requests. This is your spokesperson, not me talking. This is the Secret Service talking. And what a change from absolutely false, unequivocally false, to oh, by the way, there were some times where we didn't give them what they wanted. That's a huge change in five days, and the fact that you can't answer how many times you did that that's pretty darn frustrating, not just for me, but for the country. I hear your frustration. Let me ask you this were any of those requests denied to President Trump's detail after you knew about the Iranian threat?
Speaker 7:What I can tell you again I don't know the specifics is that there are times when we can fill a request. It doesn't necessarily have to be with a Secret Service asset or resource. We can fill that request with locally available assets.
Speaker 8:You spoke to anyone at the White House since July 13th? Yes, I have Who'd you talk to.
Speaker 7:I have briefed the President and the Vice President Talked to the First.
Speaker 8:Lady.
Speaker 7:No, I have not.
Speaker 8:Talked to the White House staff? Anyone in the White House communications? No, I have not. Have you talked to the counter sniper who took the shot that took out the bad guy? Yes, I have, and can you tell us about that conversation?
Speaker 7:I would not want to reveal conversations that I've had with my employees.
Speaker 8:But that's exactly the kind of information the American people want to know American people who pay your salary.
Speaker 7:I understand this is an ongoing investigation.
Speaker 8:Who's all doing the investigating at Secret Service? I know the Inspector General, but is there also an internal investigation in addition to the Inspector General?
Speaker 7:We are conducting a mission assurance investigation internally.
Speaker 8:yes, you know what it looks like, director. It looks like you won't answer some pretty basic questions. It looks like you got a 9% raise and you cut corners when it came to protecting one of the most important individuals, most well-known individuals on the planet, a former president, likely the guy's going to be the next president. Looks like you guys were cutting corners. That's what it looks like to me. Is that true?
Speaker 8:I am here today because I want to answer questions, but I also want to be caught you might want to, but you haven't answered I don't think you've answered one question from the chairman, the ranking member or or me. Well, we got a lot of other people asking. We'll see if your, if your record improves, but right now you haven't answered, I don't think, any questions so that is oh wow, then he makes a good point.
Speaker 1:You get a nine percent raise jim jordan making this point and yet you can't provide services to protect an individual who is running for president and is getting multiple death threats, just like many of the other candidates. Well, I take that back. Not many of the other candidates, but certainly rfk, I'm certain, has gotten death threats and I'm sure sure Biden has gotten death threats. So I don't mean many of the other candidates, I meant the other candidates, but certainly whether or not you like Donald Trump. That's beside the point. The fact is he gets these threats, fact, and she has not answered any questions, but she got a 9% raise and the fact that she comes to this oversight the House Oversight Committee, as the Secret Service Director talking about Kimberly Cheadle testifying here has done no homework, brought no documents and can't answer any questions.
Speaker 1:I'm not a big believer in conspiracies. I don't know if this was a conspiracy somehow, or if this was just such a such a screw-up that it almost cost this man's life. Such a mishandling of a situation almost cost a former president his life. It's absurd. I got to hear more. There's Pat.
Speaker 4:Fallon from Texas.
Speaker 5:How did a 20-year-old loner, with a week's notice, pick the absolute best location to assassinate President Trump when the entire Secret Service missed it? Director Cheadle, in your leadership, your agency got outsmarted and outmaneuvered by a 20-year-old. How can we have any confidence that you could stop a trained professional from a nefarious nation-state?
Speaker 5:Those are absolutely questions that we need to have answers to, I know they're questions, but you know, the fact of the matter is we can't have that confidence. Director, do you have the ability personally, do you have the authority to beef up security of any of your protectees? Yes, I do. Okay, so were you also aware there was a credible threat President Trump was facing? He was facing a heightened security threat to a foreign adversary.
Speaker 7:Yes.
Speaker 5:Okay. So, given that there was an increased threat to President Trump's life, was he provided a full security complement akin to what a sitting US president would receive?
Speaker 7:He was provided a full complement of security based on the threat assessment that we had.
Speaker 5:That's not my question. My question is if he'd been the sitting president, would he have had the same security he had on July 13th or would have been beefed up?
Speaker 7:There is a difference between the sitting president, so your answer is he didn't. And continuity of government and the responsibility that we have so he did not.
Speaker 1:Continuity of government and your responsibility. So that's very important. So there's a big difference between the guy who at the moment may end up being the president and a former president. You know, it's probably not as big of a deal as it is. You know, a sitting president yeah, not quite as big of a deal it is. You know, a sitting president yeah, not quite as big of a deal.
Speaker 5:There wasn't a CAT team, a full CAT team, on site. There wasn't counter-surveillance teams on site, but this is the thing you just said you had the ability to beef up the security. You knew about the threat and you didn't. And that's as telling as it is chilling. No doubt we have satellite images from the butler fairgrounds. Have you visited the site? Okay?
Speaker 1:this is amazing to me. So they put up a map or a picture, I guess a big picture and they're putting it on display here lays out the property, shows the buildings. This is this is shocking what she says. Now you again, I keep pointing it out so you're the Secret Service Director. It's nine days have gone by and you have not visited the site. It would have made sense, in my opinion, to be at the site ASAP, getting to the bottom of what just happened and how there could be such a tremendous screw-up with the Secret Service, and then listen to what Fallon says about, in particular, beyond this, but in particular with the rooftop and the slanted rooftop.
Speaker 5:No, I have not. Nine days and you have not visited the site. You should have been there that night. Did you talk to that evening? Did you talk to the team, the heroes that surrounded the president? Did you call them that night?
Speaker 7:They were still operational working, so that's an answer is no.
Speaker 5:Did you call them the next day? Yes, I spoke with them. You called them the very next day, not the day of, or was it 72 hours after?
Speaker 7:I don't know the timeline, but I spoke with them.
Speaker 5:Okay, because you're under oath Immediately followed. I think it was 72 hours after. You waited three days.
Speaker 7:She doesn't know the timeline. What is immediately?
Speaker 5:clear is that there are a number of structures that need to be secured Of these, director, other than the first. You know immediately.
Speaker 1:She doesn't know the timeline. If I the timeline, because you know what I would say I would say yeah, I got on the first plane to the site, or I was actually at the site. She doesn't even have to be at the site, but certainly she made her way to the site immediately, as soon as she could, and you would have that in your mind to answer his question immediate, for what's the most dangerous site that should have been secured?
Speaker 5:because you know security 101, you got to mitigate the high ground. Yes, okay, do you know what? The next most dangerous site? What was the closest structure to the president other than the four immediate ones that you had your counter sniper teams on?
Speaker 7:There are a number of structures around that event site.
Speaker 5:You know who the shooter knew. The shooter has visited the site two more times than you have. You know who the shooter knew. The shooter has visited the site two more times than you have. And he had a drone and he picked the AGR building. So you said do you remember in an ABC interview you did that you didn't have people on the roof of the AGR building because you were worried about safety because of the slope Right here.
Speaker 7:I recall that statement.
Speaker 5:This is a good point. Does the Secret Service have written policy you can share with us about slope roofs? Does the Secret Service have written policy you can share with us about slope roofs? No, okay. So why did you act like there was one? Because isn't your practice to comment on enormous events of enormous national implications when you're ignorant of the facts? That's rhetorical. So here's the thing with the slopes. You go all the way up to like 1812, you can go to 112, which is about as flat as you can get without it being completely flat, and you're saying that there was a danger, a safety concern, there. But the problem is, director, you put your counter snipers on a 312 roof, which is steeper than the 112. And, by the way, the 112 is ADA compliant. You can build a ramp for a wheelchair on a 112 roof. So these are nothing but pathetic excuses and they make no sense and they're a bunch of cow dung. All the law enforcement I've spoken with over the last nine days are amazed that the AGR rooftop was not secure. And you want to know why? Because it's dangerous.
Speaker 5:I have never had any long gun training in my life. I own an AR-15, and last time I shot it I shot it one time my whole life was six years ago, that is, until Saturday, where we recreated the events in Savoy, texas. We recreated what happened to Butler. I was lying prone on a sloped roof at 130 yards at 6 30 at night and I knew that he had a scope, but he didn't know what kind red dot or magnified. So I shot eight rounds from both. You know what the result was 15 out of 16 kill shots and the one I missed would have hit the president's ear. That's a 94% success rate and that shooter was a better shot than me.
Speaker 5:It is a miracle President Trump wasn't killed. Corey Compaoratore's life is over because that damn shooter made it on the roof and it wasn't the roof that was dangerous, it was a nut job on top of the roof. Right, you know what else is dangerous. I believe your horrifying ineptitude and your lack of skilled leadership is a disgrace. Your obvious skating today is shameful and you should be fired immediately and go back to guarding Doritos. Mr Chairman, I'll yield back.
Speaker 1:Go back to guarding Doritos, go back to Garden Doritos, mr Chairman, I'll go back. Go back to Garden Doritos, very strong, crossing the aisle, as I say, as we will. I have to play one more because this is important stuff to me. I believe this is very important to the country. Crossing the aisle from Albuquerque Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, who stands with everyone else that just spoke. I love what she has to say.
Speaker 3:Thank you, mr Chairman. You know I want to start by just saying that part of why you have bipartisan agreement here on the dais about the severity and importance of this hearing is because this is not just a single shooting. This is about national security and the security of our democracy. It's not just one operational failure. This is about our, our public officials safe, and what does that signal to our country and to the world about American security and the ability of our officials to do their job safely. So I want to start by saying thank you to all of our brave men and women who are in the uniform, whether it's the Secret Service or local law enforcement, who put their lives on the line. I think obviously we honor their service, but this is really about operational failures and what it means for our country at large, and I also want to reaffirm that we must condemn unequivocally political violence of any kind violence of any kind, not just political violence and that it cannot be tolerated in this democracy, and also to offer my prayers for the slain fire chief, corey Comprator, and also prayers for those who've been injured. Now I think you know the tone of this hearing is how is it that a 20-year-old young man with a gun that was legally purchased by his father could, on the day of a rally, go to a gun shop, legally purchase ammunition, show up to a secured site and then not only attempt an assassination of a political figure but kill and injure two others. How could this happen? I'm not asking yet. I think we've had a lot of testimony here today. I want to talk a little bit about the timeline Now. Here's what we know and I know, director, you were also on the call that we had a few days ago with the FBI and other law enforcement. So I respect that you are not able to share, based on your testimony, some of the details that are currently being investigated, but I know you were on the call because I heard you on the call and you heard them too. So I'm going to lay out the timeline a little bit.
Speaker 3:On July 3rd, the rally was announced that it was going to be in Butler. On July 6th, three days later, we know that the shooter searched for dates for Trump and DNC events. On July 7, so this is four days after the announcement the shooter went to the site. He actually physically went to the site. On July 12, the shooter went to a gun range where he and his dad regularly go and practiced shooting and the next day, on July 13th, he went to the site again before the rally began. We know that he then went and searched online for gun store. Where he went and he purchased 50 rounds of ammunition, went home, got his father's AR which was legally purchased and returned to the venue At 5 pm that evening. This is more than an hour before Donald Trump actually took the stage.
Speaker 3:That evening local law enforcement were made aware that there was a suspicious man. In fact, at 5 20 local law enforcement flagged that he had a range finder and they radioed their concerns and sent around pictures of the individual. At 5, 40, 20 minutes before local law enforcement actually identified the shooter. And at 5.51, secret Service was notified of the suspicious person by the state police and one minute later they distributed that information. That was before Donald Trump even took the stage. That was 11 minutes before he took the stage. So the Secret Service was aware that there was a suspicious person. At 6.03, he took the stage.
Speaker 3:At 6.09, rally goers, as was shown in the video, identified this gentleman climbing on the roof. At 6.11, three shots were heard, three rounds of shots and, of course, the president and the other victims were shot. This shooter was a 20-year-old young man no criminal record, legally purchased gun and ammunition who for days in the lead up to this shooting was searching mass shooters. He even had a picture of a mass shooter on his cell phone the day of the shooting. He searched for explosives. He searched high level officials. So the American people want to know how did a 20 year old young man with access to a military style weapon actually bring it on to an unsecured perimeter? Who for days had been planning a mass shooting event?
Speaker 3:And I think that, madam Director, with all due respect, the answers that we received here in this hearing today are completely unsatisfactory. How could this happen? We need answers. We need answers not just for the family members, the gentleman who was killed and those who were injured, but we need answers for our democracy Because, as others have stated here today, we are in a highly politically charged environment right now. We are only weeks away from one of the most significant presidential elections in American history and it is clear that our public officials' safety has not been secured. And it is not just a matter of one shooting, it is a matter of national security. So I hope that you will take our comments to heart. I hope that there will be accountability, and we need answers.
Speaker 1:There you go. Hmm, both sides of the aisle feel the same way. Said very well. Feel the same way. Said very well by, in this particular case, congresswoman Melanie Stansbury. So this is important stuff and I want to stay on top of this and I'm going to stay on top of this. Hey, this is Pat's Peeps number 118. It is a very different podcast and you know what I like it that way. I like to change it up, you never know. Just like on my radio show, if you give that a try, the Pat Wall Show, kpk, locally 1530 AM, 93.1 FM, and then heard nationally and internationally on the free iHeart app, on your any streaming platforms, for that matter.
Speaker 1:Just like the Pats Peeps podcast, as we do, lightening the mood, we go to music at the end of each podcast and I take a record. I pluck a record from my rare 45 collection, and this time, you know, because in light of well, you know, we had Joe Biden, was at one point a vice president under Barack Obama. Now I guess you have Kamala Harris who is going to be, you know, um, I guess they're the. The Democrats are going to prop her up next, kamala Harris, to run against Donald Trump, another VP who don't even get me started. No, get me started. I'll get to that point. It's been a lot of politics on my show and on the podcast lately but, yeah, I will address that very soon. But anyhow, I'll save that. It's already been heavy enough today. But in the name of vice presidents okay, I want to tie today's record into vice presidents.
Speaker 1:It is a song I'm going to play for you, written by a vice president. It's a pop song. The most successful version was recorded by Tommy Edwards in 1958. Carl Sigmund composed the lyrics in 1951 to this wordless 1911 composition, which was titled Melody in A Major. Melody in A Major was written by Charles G Dawes. Charles G Dawes later was the Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge. So this is the only number one single in the US to have been co-written by a US vice president or a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, because Dawes was both of those, and the song it's a great tune has become a pop standard. There's been cover versions, dozens of artists covering it. There have been a couple of minor hit singles covering it, but this song sung by Tommy Edwards was ranked at number 47 on the 2018 list of the Hot 100's all-time top 600 songs, and it was at 47. So, without further ado, well, let me give you another little bit, just a little bit more background.
Speaker 7:Okay, on the original, get a drink here, it's very warm as I said earlier.
Speaker 1:So Dawes was a bank, a Chicago bank president. He was an amateur pianist. A flautist composed this tune in 1911 in a single sitting at his Lakeshore home in Evanston, played it for a friend who was a violinist. Francis McMillan Took Dawes' sheet music to a publisher. Dawes, known for his federal appointments and a United States candidacy, was surprised to find a portrait of himself in a State Street shop window with copies of the tune for sale. And Dawes thought I thought I would be the target of my punster friends. They said that if all the notes in the bank are as bad as my musical ones, then they're not worth the paper they were written on. He said, and it was often dubbed Dawes' melody Followed him into politics, by the way. He grew to detest the song. He didn't like to hear it whenever he appeared. But here it is. This is from 1951. It's again. I've always liked this song, tommy Edwards. All right, here we go, put it on the turntable. Tommy Edwards, it's All in the Game. It's All in the Game game.
Speaker 2:Many a tear has to fall, but it's all in the game.
Speaker 6:All in the wonderful game that we know as love. You have words with him and your future's looking dim, but these things, your hearts, can rise above.
Speaker 3:Once in a while he won't call, but it's all in the game.
Speaker 2:Soon he'll be there at your side With a sweet bouquet With a sweet bouquet and he'll kiss your lips and caress your waiting fingertips and your heart will fly away, will fly away, so in 1958, edwards has only one session left on his MGM contract.
Speaker 1:Stereophonic sound recording was becoming viable, so it was decided to cut a stereo version of it's All in all in the game, with a rock and roll arrangement that was released in July, became a hit, reached number one for six weeks, september 29th of 58. Making it Edwards' first African-American, making him the first African-American to chart at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Once in a while, he won't call Hot 100. It would also be the last song to hit number one on the R&B bestseller list. In November, the song hit number one on the UK singles chart, went to number 19 in Italy. Thanks for listening. Pat's Peeps number 118. See you on the radio and he'll kiss your lips and caress your waiting fingertips.
Speaker 5:And your heart will fly away, will fly away.