WASHINGTON – Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson and Democratic House Chairman Hakeem Jeffries on Monday announced the 13 lawmakers who will form the bipartisan task force to investigate the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
“We have complete confidence in this bipartisan group of trusted, highly qualified and capable members of Congress to quickly uncover the facts, ensure accountability and help ensure that such failures are never repeated,” the two wrote in a joint statement.
Johnson said last week that the panel would release its final report by December 13, although he expected interim reports by then. The House of Representatives voted 416-0 on July 24 to establish the panel.
The task force is expected to investigate in more detail what plans the Secret Service had to protect Trump before his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and how exactly a gunman was able to open fire.
The panel will be chaired by Rep. Mike Kelly, who was present at the rally and represents Pennsylvania’s 16th district, which includes the scene of the shooting.
Kelly wrote in a Newsweek commentary published last week He believes the task force is crucial to “using the collective power of Congress as a tool to dig deeper and bring the facts to light.”
“The shooting left Mr. Trump injured, Corey Comperatore dead, and two other Pennsylvania residents injured,” Kelly wrote. “It is important that we do not jump to conclusions as we begin these investigations. I look forward to working with my colleagues to give the American people the answers they deserve.”
Other Republicans on the task force include Rep. Pat Fallon of Texas, Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, and Reps. Laurel Lee and Michael Waltz of Florida.
The ranking Democrat on the panel will be Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a former Army Ranger.
Crow released a written statement Monday that he “will support leading this bipartisan task force alongside Chairman Kelly to investigate and fully resolve the attempted assassination of former President Trump, and I will treat the matter as what it is: a serious, urgent and necessary responsibility.”
“Political violence has no place in our democracy. Period,” Crow wrote. “We must be united as Americans, not as Republicans or Democrats, in the belief that political differences are resolved through serious debate, not violence. I am committed to working with my colleagues to conduct a thorough, bipartisan investigation to gather the facts and recommend corrective security measures.”
Democrats appointed to the task force include California Rep. Lou Correa, Reps. Madeleine Dean and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland and Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida.
Investigations in Congress are ongoing
Congress has already begun investigating the shooting at the Trump rally that left one attendee dead and two others injured. The shooter was killed at the scene.
US Intelligence Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on 22 July, just one day before she has resigned in the course of the assassination attempt.
Pennsylvania Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris testified before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on the same day Cheatle resigned.
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee are expected to joint hearing Tuesday for the shooting.
Both Acting Director of the U.S. Secret Service Ronald L. Rowe Jr. and Deputy Director of the FBI Paul Abbate are expected to testify.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched its own investigation into the shooting.
