This week, House Republicans began formal investigations to try to determine what failures allowed the attempted assassination of President Trump to take place in Butler, Pennsylvania. On Monday, the House Republican Oversight Committee questioned Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, and her responses to inquiries from lawmakers were anything but informative. By Tuesday, she had announced her resignation.
Director Cheatle’s resignation is an appropriate first step of accountability for the botched protection of President Trump on July 13 when a would-be assassin sought to take his life in Pennsylvania. But this is just the first step. Congress must remain steadfast on finishing a thorough investigation of the July 13 assassination attempt and ensure that the failures of security on that day do not repeat themselves.
To that end, Speaker Mike Johnson announced the establishment of a House task force made up of seven Republicans and six Democrats to thoroughly investigate the matter. The task force will be empowered with subpoena authority and will move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability, and make certain such failures never happen again. I voted to support the establishment of this task force in order to get to the bottom of the largest security failures in modern history. The American people deserve answers.
At the beginning of the week, members of the House Homeland Security Committee visited the site of the attempted assassination of former President Trump to gather information on the event and cross-examine information provided by local law enforcement and the Secret Service. On Tuesday, the Homeland Security Committee featured witness testimony from Colonel Christopher L. Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The investigation into Trump's attempted assassination underscores the severity of the incident and the need for accountability. House Republicans are pursuing answers through task force and committee investigations, emphasizing their commitment to uncovering the truth and preventing future security failures. While Director Kimberly Cheatle's resignation is a step towards accountability, further action is needed. Congress must continue its comprehensive investigation to address security lapses and strengthen protection for national leaders.