Congressional investigations into the attempted assassination of former President Trump are moving quickly through six committees in two chambers, with several groups of lawmakers receiving private briefings on Monday and a public hearing next week.
The House Oversight Committee announced Monday that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will appear at a hearing on Monday, July 22. Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a request over the weekend for her to testify.
“The United States Secret Service has a foolproof mission, but it failed on Saturday when a madman attempted to assassinate President Trump, killed an innocent victim and injured others,” Comer said in a statement, adding that while he is “grateful to the courageous agents of the Secret Service…questions remain about how a rooftop near President Trump became unsafe.”
In preparation for the hearing, Comer and all Republicans on the panel on Monday sent the Secret Service a request for various documents, communications and other information about security preparations for the rally.
Additionally, the oversight panel has a scheduled member briefing with the Secret Service for Tuesday, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill.
Cheatle said in a declaration Monday that the agency “will also work with the appropriate congressional committees on any oversight action.”
On the House Homeland Security Committee, Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) had a “detailed phone call” with FBI Assistant Executive Director Robert Wells on the afternoon of Monday, a committee spokesperson said.
On the call, committee leaders were informed that the FBI’s Pittsburgh office is leading the investigation into “potential domestic terrorism and the attempted assassination of President Trump.” While the FBI is focused on the shooter and his motive, the Secret Service is conducting a separate review of its security protocol.
They were also told that the FBI has conducted nearly 100 interviews so far and has access to the shooter’s phone, which “pleased” Green.
The alleged shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents moments after opening fire. Trump said in a statement that a bullet “pierced” his right ear. One rally participant died and two others were seriously injured.
Green has received assurances about transparency in the investigation and hopes to schedule a site visit once the scene is processed, the spokesperson said.
Green over the weekend sent a request to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for documents and communications regarding security plans for Trump’s rally on Saturday, including those related to any potential increase in security resources for Trump, referencing reports that the department had “rejected” requests for additional security for Trump.
A Secret Service spokesman on Sunday disputed those reports as “false” and “absolutely false,” and said the Secret Service has added resources and protective capabilities as Trump has ramped up his campaign.
Although a member briefing with the director of the Secret Service will be rescheduled, Cheatle spoke with Green on Sunday in which he detailed his current requests for information.
House Judiciary Committee leaders also received briefings from the FBI on Monday morning, and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) was also briefed by the FBI on Monday, sources confirmed to The Hill.
Investigations are also ongoing in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced that his panel will conduct a bipartisan investigation into the assassination attempt.
“We will… have a bipartisan Homeland Security Committee investigation to look at the events that occurred and determine whether or not there were security breaches that we need to close,” Peters told reporters at the Capitol on Monday, adding that he had spoken “at length.” with Mayorkas on Sunday.
Peters said he would try to “expedite” a hearing on the shooting, in response to members like Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) calling for authorities to testify before the August recess.
Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) and Republicans on the committee are pressuring Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to hold a hearing with Cheatle, Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
“We look forward to working with you to investigate this matter publicly and bring answers and confidence in our system to the American people,” the Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans wrote.
Meanwhile, Durbin was briefed on the shooting investigation on Monday by the FBI’s deputy director, a source told The Hill, and requested an in-person, closed-door briefing with the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. to all panel members when the Senate returns to session next week. Discussions are also ongoing with the Republican minority about possible next steps, including a hearing.
One lawmaker, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), calls for the creation of an independent central commission to examine the security failures that allowed the assassination attempt.
Al Weaver contributed.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
