The newly formed House task force investigating the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump made significant moves on Monday. The task force, which is consolidating multiple investigations into the shooting, has requested key documents and briefings from high-level officials in various agencies involved in the probe.
The task force’s leaders, Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.), sent letters to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and FBI Director Chris Wray. This move marks the task force’s first major step in seeking comprehensive information about the July 12, 2024, attack in Butler, Pennsylvania.
On that day, Trump was shot at during a rally. Although the bullet only grazed Trump’s ear, resulting in minor injuries, the attack had tragic consequences. One attendee, Corey Comperatore, was killed, and two others sustained critical injuries. The shooting, which involved the assailant Thomas Matthew Crooks firing eight shots from a rooftop, prompted immediate and widespread concern.
The task force’s creation followed a rare unanimous vote in the House, aimed at unifying various investigations that had been conducted under different committees. This consolidation was prompted by concerns over the handling of security before and during the attack.
The House Oversight Committee had previously conducted a heated hearing with former Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle, which led to her resignation. Acting Director Ronald Rowe, who succeeded Cheatle, faced intense scrutiny during his testimony. Rowe admitted to Congress that the security lapses were deeply troubling and expressed regret over the lack of adequate coverage for the rooftop from which Crooks fired.
“I went to the roof of the AGR building where the assailant fired shots, and I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight. What I saw made me ashamed as a career law enforcement officer,” Rowe said. He further criticized the lack of security measures, noting that Crooks’ head would have been visible from the unsecured rooftop.
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According to Rowe, local law enforcement had alerted the Secret Service about a man with a rifle on the roof approximately 30 seconds before the shooting began. However, the response was reportedly inadequate, with officers failing to secure the rooftop as necessary.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pressed Rowe on whether anyone had been held accountable for the security failures. The hearing became contentious when Hawley questioned the lack of disciplinary actions for those who made critical decisions regarding Trump’s security.
“Has the person who decided to send Donald Trump on stage knowing that there was a security situation been relieved of duty?” Hawley asked. Rowe’s response was that no such individuals had been dismissed, which led to further frustration from the Senator.
Rowe defended the investigation’s integrity, emphasizing that it was essential to avoid rushing to judgment. He acknowledged the gravity of the security lapse but stressed the importance of conducting a thorough and fair investigation.
“This could have been our Texas School Book Depository,” Rowe said, referring to the location of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. “I have lost sleep over this, but I will ensure accountability through a proper investigation and not rush to unfair conclusions.”
The task force’s actions underscore the seriousness of the investigation and the complexities involved in addressing the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt. As the investigation progresses, the task force’s efforts will be crucial in determining the full extent of the security breaches and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
