Rockford Sun

Illinois 11th Congressional District candidate Jerry Evans commented on the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle, saying, "This is the right decision - especially given the recent failures of the Secret Service, and Cheatle’s lack of willingness to answer important questions to members of Congress." He made the statement in a July 23 Facebook post.

"Today Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation as the United States Secret Service Director," said Evans, according to Facebook. "This is the right decision - especially given the recent failures of the Secret Service, and Cheatle's lack of willingness to answer important questions to members of Congress. The US Congress must thoroughly investigate the assassination attempt of former President Trump, and ensure there is complete accountability so that it does not happen again."

In his Facebook post, Evans shared a link to a CNN article about Cheatle’s resignation, which followed an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. According to CNN, lawmakers and an internal government watchdog are investigating how the Secret Service handled protecting former President Donald Trump. They are also looking into how the gunman got so close.

Screenshot of Jerry Evans for Congress July 23 Facebook post | Jerry Evans for Congress Facebook page

CNN quotes a resignation letter from Cheatle, saying, "In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director." This contradicts testimony she gave in a July 15 appearance in front of the House Oversight Committee when she said there were "significant" and "colossal" problems but added, "I think I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time." She did not answer many of the committee’s questions.

On July 15, Cheatle issued an official statement regarding the incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. She said that "Secret Service personnel on the ground moved quickly during the incident, with our counter sniper team neutralizing the shooter and our agents implementing protective measures to ensure the safety of former president Donald Trump. The Secret Service is working with all involved Federal, state and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again. We understand the importance of the independent review announced by President Biden yesterday and will participate fully. We will also work with the appropriate Congressional committees on any oversight action."

Evans is running his campaign with a focus on education and community service in the Chicago area. A small businessman and founder of a suburban music school, he graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in music. Now residing in Warrenville with his wife and sons, Evans is deeply involved in mentoring, missionary training, and participation in missions to India, Mexico, and South Africa. According to his website, he and his four siblings were taught by their parents "the Midwestern values of hard work and the importance of helping those around you."