WASHINGTON - US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will undergo a grilling on July 22 at a congressional hearing into her agency’s failure to prevent a would-be assassin from wounding Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump earlier this month.

Ms Cheatle is due to appear before the House of Representatives Oversight and Accountability Committee at 10am (1400GMT) to be questioned by lawmakers. The Secret Service chief faces calls for her resignation from top Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

On July 24, FBI Director Christopher Wray will appear before the House Judiciary Committee.

The July 13 shooting at an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounded Trump in the ear, killed one rally attendee and injured another. The suspected shooter, 20-year-old nursing home aide Thomas Crooks, was killed by law enforcement.

The incident has angered lawmakers, who say the suspect was able to get within range of Trump on the rooftop of a nearby building because of security lapses at Ms Cheatle’s agency, which is charged with protecting presidents and former presidents.

The House Judiciary Committee said last week that it has evidence the Secret Service was not properly resourced for Trump’s rally, because of staffing shortages created by a rival campaign event in Pittsburgh with first lady Jill Biden and a Nato summit held days before in Washington.

President Joe Biden on July 21 ended his floundering reelection bid, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him as candidate. He vowed to serve through the end of his term on Jan 20, 2025.