A newly established House task force has begun investigating the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, focusing on significant security failures during the incident.
According to Daily Mail, the task force has requested documents and briefings from several agencies as it seeks to consolidate various investigations into the July 13, 2024, shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The task force made its first move on Monday, sending formal requests for information to key officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Acting Director of the Secret Service Ronald Rowe, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and FBI Director Chris Wray.
During the July 13 rally, a bullet grazed former President Trump’s ear, causing a minor injury but sparking a significant national security investigation. The incident claimed the life of Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee, and critically injured two others. The task force aims to address the apparent security lapses that allowed the assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, to fire from an unsecured rooftop.
The task force’s request for documents and evidence seeks to supersede any other ongoing congressional investigations, reflecting the urgency and priority of the probe. They have demanded comprehensive briefings and access to all documents produced for Congress related to the shooting.
This investigation follows a contentious hearing by the House Oversight Committee, where Acting Director Ronald Rowe, who recently replaced former Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle, admitted to significant failures in securing the rally site. Cheatle resigned following the hearing, during which Rowe took responsibility for the security lapses.
In a detailed reenactment, Rowe visited the roof of the AGR building where Crooks fired the shots. “I went to the roof of the AGR building where the assailant fired shots, and I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight. What I saw made me ashamed as a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service. I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured,” Rowe stated.
The task force’s investigation has highlighted severe shortcomings in the security protocols on the day of the rally. Local law enforcement had reportedly warned the Secret Service about a man with a rifle on the roof just 30 seconds before the shooting occurred. However, security personnel were not stationed on the roof, allegedly due to the extreme heat, leaving the area vulnerable.
Crooks was observed on the rooftop for approximately three and a half minutes before firing. Despite this, law enforcement did not secure the location as protocol demanded. Rowe expressed his frustration and disbelief at the lack of oversight during the incident. “Law enforcement should’ve been on that roof, and the fact that they were in the building is something that I’m still trying to understand,” Rowe added.
The lack of immediate disciplinary action has also been a point of contention. During a Senate hearing, Senator Josh Hawley pressed Rowe on whether any Secret Service personnel had been relieved of duty following the incident. Rowe admitted that no one had been fired, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation before taking such steps.
As the investigation progresses, the task force faces increasing pressure to deliver results. Rowe acknowledged the gravity of the situation, comparing the failure to secure the rooftop to the infamous Texas School Book Depository, where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. He stated that he had lost sleep over the incident and is committed to ensuring accountability, but he stressed that any actions must be taken with integrity.
“You’re asking me, Senator, to completely make a rush to judgment about somebody failing. I acknowledge this was a failure,” Rowe responded to Senator Hawley’s calls for accountability. Rowe assured the committee that the investigation would be thorough and fair, without rushing to judgment.
The newly formed House task force investigating the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has started its operations by requesting documents and briefings from several agencies, including Homeland Security and the Secret Service. The task force's activities are a response to the shooting incident at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was slightly injured and an attendee was killed. Significant security lapses were revealed during a congressional hearing, leading to intense scrutiny and the resignation of the former Secret Service director.
