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Mitch McConnell urges Secret Service director to step down after Trump assassination attempt

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined the House speaker in calling for her to step down.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Top leaders within Congress are calling on the director of the Secret Service to step down after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

In a post on social media, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said new leadership would be "an important step in the right direction."

"Last week’s near-assassination of former President Trump was a grave attack on American democracy," he said. "The nation deserves answers and accountability."

RELATED: House Oversight panel subpoenas Secret Service director to testify on Trump assassination attempt

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The Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee issued a subpoena Wednesday to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle compelling her to appear before the committee on Monday for what is scheduled to be the first congressional hearing into the attempted assassination of the former president.

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would be setting up a task force to investigate security failures that occurred during the assassination attempt. He also said he would be calling on Cheatle to resign from her post as director of the Secret Service.

Cheatle said during an interview Monday with ABC News that the shooting should never have happened, but also said she has no plans to resign.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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