US Congress forms task force to probe Trump shooting

The panel will investigate security failures leading up to the attempted assassination of the Republican presidential candidate

US lawmakers have authorized the formation of a bipartisan task force to probe the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, according to an announcement posted on the US Congress website late on Wednesday.

The Republican presidential candidate came within inches of losing his life when a gunman opened fire just minutes into his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. His would-be assassin, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to position himself on a roof with a clear shot to where Trump was addressing his supporters. A bullet grazed Trump’s right ear. One attendee was killed and two others were injured. The shooter was subsequently killed by Secret Service agents, but the incident sparked public outrage and widespread calls for accountability.

According to the resolution on the Congress website, both Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of creating the task force to investigate the Trump shooting. House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the vote that “protecting the safety and security of our nation’s leaders is a responsibility that transcends party lines.”

The new task force will probe the security failures on federal, state and local levels of law enforcement that led up to the assassination attempt. It will consist of 13 members, with seven Republicans and six Democrats. The panel will have subpoena authority, and is set to present its final report on the shooting by December 13. The report is expected to include “recommendations for legislative reforms necessary to prevent future security lapses.”

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Trump shooter studied JFK assassination – FBI

House committees have already held three hearings in relation to the shooting. Earlier on Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee on the ongoing investigation that the bureau is conducting. He shed little light on the probe or the shooter’s motivation, but said Crooks had extensively researched “public figures in general” and the assassination of John F. Kennedy prior to his attempt on Trump’s life.

Trump’s fellow Republicans have criticized the Secret Service for failing to secure the area prior to the rally and prevent the shooting, while some reports alleged that the agency had not provided Trump with enough security before the event despite his requests for more manpower. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was forced to resign earlier this week following the outcry.