House Votes To Establish Task Force On Trump Assassination Attempt

The House of Representatives voted unanimously on Wednesday night to establish a task force to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump earlier this month at a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania. 

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) introduced the resolution that passed 416-0 in support. The vote comes as the Judiciary and Oversight Committees have begun conducting their own investigations into the attack on Trump. 

The resolution says that the task force will “investigate and fully examine all actions by any agency, Department, officer, or employee of the federal government, as well as State and local law enforcement or any other State or local government or private entities or individuals, related to the attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.”

According to the resolution, the task force must “issue a final report of its findings to the House not later than December 13, 2024, including any recommendations for legislative reforms necessary to prevent future security lapses.”

The task force will consist of 13 members, the majority of whom will be selected by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). On Tuesday, Johnson announced his support for the task force alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

“The security failures that allowed an assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life are shocking. In response, [Jeffries] and I are announcing a House Task Force made up of seven Republicans and six Democrats to thoroughly investigate the matter,” Johnson posted on X. “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.”

House lawmakers have already heard testimony about the attack from FBI Director Christopher Wray, law enforcement, and former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. 

Cheatle resigned on Tuesday after she was grilled on Monday over the security lapses that allowed 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks to access a rooftop only about 150 yards away from where Trump spoke during the rally. Crooks shot Trump, striking him in his right ear, critically injured two rally attendees, and killed 50-year-old Corey Comperatore. 

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