House Leaders Launch Bipartisan Task Force to Investigate Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have announced the formation of a bipartisan task force to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The task force aims to uncover how Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old individual, managed to evade federal and local law enforcement and fire a bullet that came dangerously close to taking Trump’s life. Additionally, the task force seeks to ensure that such security failures are prevented in the future.

The decision to establish the task force comes in the wake of a contentious hearing where Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced criticism for her handling of the security lapses that led to the shooting at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Both Republicans and Democrats called for Cheatle’s resignation after she failed to provide satisfactory answers and demonstrate accountability during the hearing.

In a letter addressed to Cheatle, Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) expressed their disappointment with her inability to address the operational failure adequately. They demanded her resignation as a first step towards restoring trust in the Secret Service.

Cheatle, while admitting the Secret Service’s failure in fulfilling its mission that day, refused to step down and even praised the agents on the ground, giving them an “A” grade. She acknowledged that Crooks’ position atop the AGR International, Inc. building had been flagged as a vulnerability before the rally. Despite labeling Crooks as “suspicious” and recognizing him as a threat just seconds before the shooting, the Secret Service allowed Trump to take the stage.

During the hearing, Cheatle defended the decision not to address the building’s security concerns, citing its location outside the perimeter and a sloped roof. However, she later revealed that there was no policy mandating such a stance. Representative Pat Fallon (R-Texas) strongly criticized Cheatle, suggesting she should be fired and return to her previous role at PepsiCo, which owns Doritos.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General are conducting separate investigations into the security failures that nearly resulted in Trump’s assassination. The House Homeland Security Committee has also initiated a hearing to gather insights from Pennsylvania law enforcement officials and has subpoenaed Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for additional documentation.

The House is expected to vote on a resolution to establish the Trump assassination attempt task force, which will comprise seven Republicans and six Democrats. The task force will be granted subpoena authority and will work swiftly to uncover the facts, ensure accountability, and prevent similar failures from occurring in the future.