Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that Congress will conduct a full investigation. The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by law enforcement at the scene. The attack left Trump with a minor injury to his ear, one rally attendee dead, and two others injured.
Johnson condemned the attack as “a horrific act of political violence” during an interview on “Today” and assured the public of a thorough investigation. He posted on X, stating, “Congress will conduct a full investigation of the tragedy to determine where there were lapses in security.”
Investigations revealed that Crooks had explosives in his car and bomb-making materials at his home, intensifying concerns about the potential scale of his plan. This has prompted swift actions from congressional leaders to address the security failures.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has invited Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify before the committee on July 22. In his letter, Comer stressed the importance of understanding how the shooter managed to execute his plan and identifying any security shortcomings.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has also called for a thorough investigation. In a letter to Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Hawley emphasized the need to probe the security lapses that allowed the shooter to gain a clear line of sight and accurate range to target the former president.
“The little that we do know suggests a staggering security failure,” Hawley wrote. He further demanded that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testify publicly under oath about the incident.
Johnson, Comer, and Hawley have shown a united front in seeking accountability and answers. The investigation aims to uncover the details of the security breaches and ensure such an incident does not recur. As the probe continues, the focus remains on reinforcing the safety of public figures and preventing future threats.