The House of Representatives unanimously voted to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The vote saw 416 representatives in favor of the commission, with none voting “no” or “present.” The task force will consist of seven Republicans and six Democrats, with the members expected to be announced soon.
Following the deadly shooting at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one attendee died and two others were injured, the House GOP leaders pushed the bill to the floor swiftly. The incident raised questions about the security measures that allowed a 20-year-old gunman with a rifle onto a rooftop near the rally perimeter.
In response to the bipartisan demands for answers, Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the formation of the House Task Force. This task force will have subpoena authority and aims to investigate the security failures that led to the assassination attempt on Trump’s life. The bipartisan effort is led by Rep. Mike Kelly, who represents the district where the shooting occurred.
The goal of the task force is to swiftly gather facts, ensure accountability, and prevent such security failures from happening in the future. Johnson emphasized the importance of reaching a conclusion promptly to address any conspiracy theories or misinformation that may arise. The bipartisan nature of the task force, along with its subpoena authority, is crucial in obtaining quick and accurate answers.
The scrutiny of the security situation also led to the resignation of U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. The investigation into the attempted assassination aims to provide clarity on how such a security breach occurred and to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future.