Following the nomination of members to the Trump assassination attempt task force by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the panel members demonstrated a bipartisan intent to thoroughly investigate the events leading up to this historic tragedy.
Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican from Pennsylvania whose district encompasses the Butler Farm Show grounds where the attempt on Trump’s life occurred, was selected to lead the panel as its chairman.
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., was appointed as the ranking member. Crow brings experience as a U.S. Army Ranger from the Mideast and is joined by several other committee members with backgrounds in law enforcement or the military.
Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., who toured the Butler site last week, emphasized that the incident transcends party lines and stated that his observations in Pennsylvania revealed significant issues:
TOP DEM WHO VISITED BUTLER SAYS LOCAL OFFICIALS TOLD HIM ‘WE NEED TO TALK MORE’ ABOUT SECRET SERVICE FAILURES
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is hurried off stage during a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“After visiting the site with a bipartisan group of my colleagues, it’s evident there were numerous security lapses, and it seems this wasn’t the first significant security failure involving a national political figure,” Correa remarked.
“This is unacceptable. I am committed to collaborating with my colleagues across the aisle to uncover the facts of that day and to craft policy solutions that will prevent such close calls in the future.”
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., a member of the Louisiana National Guard and former St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office employee, was also appointed to the committee.
Higgins pointed out that the committee will possess subpoena power to investigate the failures that occurred in Butler and to ensure accountability for the victims and the American public.
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House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green (R-TN) speaks to the media along with U.S. Representatives at the Butler Farm Show in Pennsylvania on July 22, 2024. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital )
“I’m honored to be part of the bipartisan Task Force concerning the attempted assassination of President Trump,” Higgins stated.
“The American public demands clarity, and we will utilize every resource at our disposal to uncover the details surrounding the assassination attempt, hold accountable those responsible, and pinpoint security failures. I anticipate collaborating with my bipartisan colleagues to present the truth.”
Along with Kelly, two additional Pennsylvanians were included in the panel: Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat and Air Force veteran from the Main Line area, and Madeleine Dean from Montgomery County.
Houlahan expressed that her appointment is a “distinct and solemn honor,” noting that the legislation establishing the task force was passed unanimously.
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Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) converses with Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 22, 2024. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is investigating the site of former President Donald Trump’s assassination attempt that resulted in one casualty and two injuries at a recent campaign rally. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital )
“This underscores the imperative from the people of Pennsylvania and all Americans to carry out this investigation without political interference or divisive language. I am dedicated to upholding our core values of truth, civility, decency, and patriotism in my role on this task force,” she stated.
“As a representative from Pennsylvania, the birthplace of our Republic and democracy, I believe the recent assassination attempt against former President Trump starkly illustrates the vulnerability of our democratic institutions.”
Houlahan remarked that the attack contradicts the very “fabric” of America and emphasized that all political factions must denounce violence, acknowledging that political disagreements should never precipitate such actions.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, led the site tour and condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s (through the Secret Service) “complete failure” to protect a former president and current candidate for the highest office in the nation.
“This concern amplifies with every new revelation and ongoing resistance from the Biden-Harris administration against congressional oversight,” Green said. “Forming this task force is a critical measure in addressing this inadequacy and providing the American public with the answers they are entitled to.”
Green urged DHS officials to assist in the task force’s investigation.
Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, with 25 years of prosecutorial experience, pledged to diligently “uncover the facts, demand accountability, and ensure that such security failures” don’t recur in the future.
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Thomas Matthew Crooks is seen outside the Butler Fairgrounds in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of the former president on July 14, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Bethel Park School District/Getty Images)
“President Trump, the individuals injured on July 13, Corey Comperatore’s family, and the American people deserve these answers,” Joyce remarked.
Another Republican, Laurel Lee of Florida, criticized the “inexcusable security failures” of that day, stating that the Secret Service did not fulfill its “no-fail mission.”
Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz from Florida, who previously dealt with mass shooting situations at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was also appointed to the task force.
“My background as the former Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management has involved after-action reviews to glean lessons from both natural and man-made disasters,” Moskowitz explained.
“As a state representative from Parkland, where 17 individuals lost their lives in a mass shooting at my former school, I contributed to the formation of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Commission that examined the failures of that day.”
On Monday, Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., stated that “the safety and security of our presidential candidates is paramount.”
“Understanding the security breakdowns that permitted such an attack is extremely important. Political violence is intolerable, and safeguarding individuals pursuing public office is essential to protect our democratic processes,” Ivey expressed.
On X (formerly Twitter), some users criticized Johnson and Jeffries for not including additional prominent lawmakers with military expertise in the task force.
One of those excluded, Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who has engaged in civilian rescue initiatives in Afghanistan, conveyed his lack of surprise at being left out.
“This is regrettable but not surprising for anyone familiar with the workings of D.C. I’m not a politician, not a leadership figure, nor a ‘yes man,'” Mills stated.
“I sincerely wish the members of Speaker Johnson’s task force well,” he continued, calling for a separate inquiry that includes subject-matter experts and whistleblowers instead of politicians.
He also highlighted that Rep. Elijah Crane, a former military sniper who immediately recognized the Butler water tower as a potential security oversight for the Secret Service, was similarly left out.
“I plan to engage with other members, and although I lack subpoena authority, I will personally finance whatever is required for additional staffing to pursue further investigations and uncover the truth,” Mills asserted.
Others on the task force include Michael Waltz, R-Fla., and Pat Fallon, R-Texas.
