House Republicans are intensifying their investigation into the assassination attempt on President Trump and the apparent security failures that allowed a gunman to come dangerously close to the GOP presidential nominee.
Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday the formation of a bipartisan special task force within the House to investigate the attack on Trump, stating in a social media post, “we need answers for these shocking security failures.”
Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern over how the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to open fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, injuring Trump, killing one attendee, and seriously wounding two others. Republicans have directed their frustration at federal law enforcement leaders, with some calling for the resignation of agency heads.
Johnson explained on Fox News that he plans to set up the task force on Monday, which will be composed of both Republicans and Democrats, designed to operate swiftly by bypassing some of the procedural hurdles other congressional investigations face.
The Louisiana Republican revealed that he had spoken with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who he claimed “did not have satisfactory answers” regarding the attack. Johnson also mentioned discussions with other law enforcement leaders, stating that “the answers have not been forthcoming.” He emphasized his intention to call for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign.
Meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee announced it will hold a hearing next week on the FBI's investigation into the assassination attempt, with FBI Director Christopher Wray set to testify. This development comes as numerous hearings are scheduled for next week to question agency heads about the security lapse. The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Cheatle to appear on July 22, after her attendance was in doubt.
“Americans demand accountability and transparency about the Secret Service's failures that led to the attempted assassination of President Trump, but they aren't getting that from President Biden's Department of Homeland Security,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said in a statement accompanying the subpoena. “We have many questions for Director Cheatle about the Secret Service's historic failure and she must appear before the House Oversight Committee next week.”
House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green also invited Mayorkas, Wray, and Cheatle to testify before his committee on July 23. “It is imperative that we partner to understand what went wrong, and how Congress can work with the departments and agencies to ensure this never happens again,” said Green, a Tennessee Republican. Green is also requesting public testimony from state and local law enforcement officials on the assassination attempt on President Trump.
Later on Wednesday, both the House and Senate will receive briefings on the assassination attempt from Justice Department, Secret Service, and FBI officials, according to multiple sources familiar with the briefings. Investigative efforts are also underway in the Senate.
Biden announced earlier this week that he is directing an independent review of the security measures and events at the rally to determine what went wrong. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general is launching an investigation into the rally's planning.
