Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a bipartisan task force has been established to investigate the incident. The panel, led by Rep. Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican, and Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, will delve into the security lapses that allowed the attack to take place. Both Kelly and Crow have significant law enforcement or military backgrounds.
Rep. Lou Correa, a California Democrat who toured the Butler site last week, stated that the incident transcends party lines and that security failures were evident. Correa pointed to concerns raised by local officials about the Secret Service’s handling of the situation.
The committee will have subpoena power to investigate the incident thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable. Rep. Clay Higgins, a Louisiana Republican with military and law enforcement experience, emphasized the committee’s commitment to uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability for the victims and the American people.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed concern over the Department of Homeland Security’s failure to protect the former president and candidate. Green deemed the security lapse unacceptable and urged DHS officials to cooperate fully with the task force’s investigation.
Several other members, including Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, and Rep. David Joyce, an Ohio Republican, highlighted the importance of uncovering the facts and preventing similar security failures.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat, emphasized the need for lessons to be learned from the incident, drawing parallels to his experience with after-action reviews following the mass shooting at his alma mater, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat, stressed the paramount importance of protecting presidential candidates and ensuring the safety of the democratic process.
Some observers, however, criticized the selection of the task force members, particularly the omission of lawmakers with extensive military experience. Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican, voiced his disappointment at not being included, noting his expertise and willingness to conduct a parallel investigation with subject-matter experts and whistleblowers. He also highlighted the exclusion of Rep. Elijah Crane, a former military sniper, who had identified a potential vantage point missed by the Secret Service.
The task force is expected to conduct a thorough investigation, with the goal of understanding the security failures that led to the attempted assassination, holding those responsible accountable, and implementing measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
