Congressional leaders on Monday unveiled the members of the newly minted bipartisan task force to probe the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump earlier this month.
The 13-member panel will be chaired by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) with Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) serving as the ranking member, according to an announcement from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“We have the utmost confidence in this bipartisan group of steady, highly qualified, and capable Members of Congress to move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability, and help make certain such failures never happen again,” Johnson and Jeffries said in a joint statement.
Hakeem Jeffries and Mike Johnson announced plans to form the bipartisan task force last week. APLawmakers on the bipartisan task force will work to uncover how suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, managed to evade security and fired at least one shot that came within an inch of the 45th president’s skull.
Law enforcement shot and killed Crooks seconds after he fired on the former president, but not before his bullets killed firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50, and severely injured two others — David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74.
Republican members of the panel are Reps. Mark Green of Tennessee, David Joyce of Ohio, Laurel Lee of Florida, Michael Waltz of Florida, Clay Higgins of Louisiana and Pat Fallon of Texas.
Democratic members are Reps. Lou Correa of California, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Glenn Ivey of Maryland and Jared Moskowitz of Florida.
Both Jeffries and Johnson announced plans to form the bipartisan task force last week. It will enjoy typical congressional investigative authorities including the ability to levy subpoenas.
The FBI has since confirmed that a bullet grazed the former president’s right ear. REUTERSThe stated objective of the panel is to figure out the security lapses of the July 13 rally in Butler, Pa., ensure accountability, and prevent a similar failure from taking place in the future.
Kelly, who is chairing the panel, hails from Butler, where the shooting attack that nearly killed Trump occurred. He also represents the Keystone State’s 16th Congressional District, which encompasses Butler.
The congressman authored the resolution calling for the creation of the bipartisan task force.
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
- Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’
- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
Ranking member Crow is a former Army Ranger who served the nation in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his service in the latter.
Also of note is Green, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, and Waltz, who quickly came forward with allegations that the Secret Service turned down additional security for Trump.
Also of note is Green, who is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Waltz, who quickly came forward with allegations that the Secret Service turned down additional security for Trump.
Initially, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi denied claims that a request from Trump’s team for beefed-up security was rebuffed as “absolutely false.” But last week, the protective agency fessed up.
Donald Trump has since removed the bandage from his right ear. AP“In some instances where specific Secret Service specialized units or resources were not provided, the agency made modifications to ensure the security of the protectee,” Guglielmi said in a statement.
“This may include utilizing state or local partners to provide specialized functions or otherwise identifying alternatives to reduce public exposure of a protectee.”
Would-be Trump assassin's timeline of terror
Following backlash over the security mishap, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle tendered her resignation after bipartisan pressure mounted for her to do so.
Prior to this task force, the last major congressional panel of its kind was announced in February to tackle the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
A graphic breaking down how the attempt on Donald Trump’s life earlier this month went down. NY PostThere are now multiple investigations underway into what transpired on July 13. The FBI is investigating the motives behind the shooting.
President Biden has also called for an independent review of the shooting, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General has confirmed that it is investigating the situation. Multiple other congressional committees have issued letters seeking information or taken other investigatory steps.
Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), who was not selected for the task force, publicly suggested Monday that he would conduct his own private inquiry into the security lapses in tandem with the panel’s probe.
“I wish the members of Speaker Johnson’s Task Force well, and think it’s time for a parallel independent investigation with subject matter experts and the whistleblowers who’ve already come forward,” Mills said in a statement.
“I will be speaking with other members, and although I won’t have subpoena powers, I will personally fund whatever is required for additional staff to further [investigate] and expose the truth,” he added.
The House of Representatives is currently on its August recess and set to gavel back into session in September.
