Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci
The Republican leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is calling for the formation of a select committee to investigate the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, which happened last Saturday in Butler County.
Leader Bryan Cutler, a Republican from Lancaster County, introduced House Resolution 501, which aims to establish a bipartisan Select Committee on the Trump Assassination Attempt.
The proposed committee would be made up of three Republicans and three Democrats and would be tasked with examining the planning, response, and coordination of state and local law enforcement with federal agencies at the Trump campaign event.
Cutler’s resolution stipulates that the committee’s report should be completed no later than November 30.
The House is not scheduled to reconvene until September 23. A vote on the resolution would be required.
“One Pennsylvanian died and two were critically wounded as an assassin nearly took the life of a former president and the nominee of a major political party in the upcoming election. We must ask the questions of why and what we can do to prevent this from happening in the future,” Cutler said.
Cutler highlighted the importance of understanding the incident from a state and local perspective, given the increased reliance of federal law enforcement on state and local partners for security protocols. He pointed to the need to improve current practices to ensure the safety of citizens and candidates at future campaign events in Pennsylvania.
The rally where Trump was shot in the ear had its protection led by the U.S. Secret Service, which is mandated by law to protect presidents, vice presidents, and former presidents. Local, county, and state law enforcement also assisted in ensuring the security and safety of the event.
“The purpose of this committee is not to assign blame, but rather to give state and local law enforcement a voice so we can collectively identify what happened and learn to improve upon current practices,” Cutler stated.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have expressed intentions to investigate the incident and reported security failures.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General announced it has opened two reviews of the incident. The U.S. Secret Service, part of the Department of Homeland Security.
“The Pennsylvania State Police continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal, state and local partners as this investigation continues,” said Col. Christopher Paris, the Pennsylvania State Police commissioner.
Credit: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Gov. Josh Shapiro remembered the victims of the shooting and said his family was keeping Trump in their thoughts. He ordered flags at half-staff following the shooting to remember the rally-goer killed, Corey Comperatore, 50, of Buffalo Township in Butler County.
“The Secret Service is working with all involved Federal, state, and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again,” said U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Authorities have conducted hundreds of interviews, cracked into the shooter’s phone and searched his car and home. A motive behind the attempt on Trump’s life remains unknown.
Investigators are still trying to piece together how Crooks eluded U.S. Secret Service agents and local police.
Officers and spectators alike took notice of Crooks before the shooting. And the roof of the building that he fired from appeared to be unsecured, leaving a security expert baffled.
“If I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark,” Trump said at the Republican National Convention. “And I would not be here tonight. We would not be together.”
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
