House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have assembled a bipartisan task force consisting of seven Republican and six Democratic lawmakers to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The 13 lawmakers chosen for the task force have experience relevant to the committee’s role, which includes seeking accountability and answers following the violent incident that occurred during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. on July 13.
The task force will be chaired by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), who represents Butler County and has connections to law enforcement in the area. Alongside Kelly, other Republican members include Mark Green (Tenn.), David Joyce (Ohio), Laurel Lee (Fla.), Michael Waltz (Fla.), Clay Higgins (La.), and Pat Fallon (Tex.). On the Democratic side, Rep. Jason Crow (Colo.) will serve as the ranking Democrat, with members including Lou Correa (Calif.), Madeleine Dean (Pa.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Glenn Ivey (Md.), and Jared Moskowitz (Fla.).
With the task force having been granted subpoena authority and overseeing all House committee investigations related to the assassination attempt, lawmakers hope to quickly gather information to comprehend the security and communication lapses that allowed the gunman to attack. The group aims to hold those responsible accountable, prevent further Secret Service failures, and ultimately ensure the safety and protection of high-profile figures in the future. As Senate lawmakers prepare to hear from Secret Service and FBI officials, the bipartisan collaborative effort towards investigating the assassination attempt stands out in a notably divided Congress, marking a serious and cooperative approach to uncovering the truth behind the violent incident that shocked the nation.
