Rep. Cory Mills (R-Florida) pledged Monday to fund a “parallel independent investigation” into the attempted assassination of former President Trump, expressing disappointment that he was not selected to be part of the task force to investigate the shooting at the rally.
House Speaker Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) on Monday announced the 13-member bipartisan task force to investigate the assassination attempt, in which a 20-year-old gunman injured Trump, a rally attendee died and two others were seriously injured.
“It’s very unfortunate, but not surprising to anyone who is familiar with how DC works. I am not a politician, a leader or a ‘yes man,’” Mills said in a statement Monday.
Mills, an Army veteran who founded defense contracting and private security firms, referenced an investigation into the matter he conducted with Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), a former Navy SEAL sniper, and with conservative media personality Benny Johnson.
“I wish the members of President Johnson’s Task Force the best of luck and think it is time for a parallel independent investigation with subject matter experts (SME) and the whistleblowers who have already come forward and that Representative Eli Crane and Benny Johnson and I have spoken with ,” Mills said. “I will speak with other members and, although I do not have subpoena powers, I will personally fund whatever is necessary so that more officials can investigate and expose the truth.”
In a post on the social media site a whistleblower who will protect us.”
Crane also expressed his disappointment at not being named to the task force by reposting a message from Benny Johnson on X saying it was “complete and utter bullshit” that Mills and Crane weren’t chosen for the panel.
House Speaker Johnson said last week that he wanted the panel to be members who “have experience in the areas in question.”
The task force chair will be Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), who represents Butler, Pa., and was present at the rally during the shooting, and the ranking member will be Rep. Jason Crow (Colorado). , a former Army Ranger and Bronze Star recipient who serves on the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees.
Other members on the Republican side include Rep. Mark Green (Tenn.), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee; Rep. David Joyce (Ohio), former prosecutor and chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee; Representative Michael Waltz (Florida), retired from Army Special Forces; Representative Clay Higgins (La.), former police officer.
“We have the utmost confidence in this bipartisan group of stable, highly qualified and capable Members of Congress to act quickly to uncover the facts, ensure accountability and help ensure that such failures never happen again,” Johnson and Jeffries said in a joint statement.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
