Congress is snapping into action to investigate the shocking assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump by a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man.
Trump was wounded in the attack when a bullet struck his right ear, although he was later released by a local hospital and returned to his New Jersey home. Two people were killed in the horrific incident, including the shooter.
House Republicans started a call at 2 p.m. The House Sergeant at Arms will give a security update for lawmakers. Later this afternoon, the Department of Homeland Security is scheduled to brief aides for the chair and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security, Appropriations and Intelligence committees.
The Republican convention begins tomorrow in Milwaukee. And while Trump and GOP officials say they’re going ahead with the convention as planned, the deadly attack Saturday will dramatically reshape the tone and tenor of the GOP gathering.
The president: President Joe Biden announced today that he would address the nation from the Oval Office tonight about the need “to unite as one nation.”
Biden, in remarks delivered today from the White House, said he has always directed the Secret Service to provide Trump with “every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety.”
Biden also announced that he directed the Secret Service to “review all security measures” for the Republican convention in Milwaukee. And he has “directed an independent review” of the security at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris received a briefing from law enforcement officials earlier today. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan were among the briefers.
On Saturday night, Trump and Biden spoke. The White House described the call as “good, respectful and brief.”
The president also postponed a Monday trip to Texas.
Committee action: The House Oversight Committee is taking the lead on the congressional investigative efforts on the Trump shooting even as the criminal probe is in its early stages. Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has asked Cheatle to testify on July 22.
The Oversight panel is also expected to get a closed briefing from the Secret Service in advance of the hearing, according to sources close to the committee.
The Secret Service is coming under intense scrutiny in the wake of the Trump attack, with lawmakers in both parties criticizing the agency for how it handled security at the Trump event. The shooter — identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa. — was within 150 meters of Trump when he fired as many as eight rounds from an AR-15 rifle, according to the AP.
The Homeland Security Committee, chaired by Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), is demanding documents on the Secret Service’s security plan for the event. Green is planning to hold a hearing in the coming weeks.
Green sent a request to the FBI for a visit for Homeland Security Committee members to go see the rally site, per a source familiar.
Green is also trying to schedule calls today with Mayorkas and Cheatle and has requested a private briefing for his committee, said a person with knowledge of his plans.
“According to the USSS, the shooter ‘fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue,’” Green said in a letter to Mayorkas. “This raises serious concerns regarding how a shooter was able to access a rooftop within range and direct line of sight of where President Trump was speaking.”
The Senate Homeland Security Committee is also launching an investigation, according to a committee aide. This is likely to include public hearings, the aide said. The panel’s chair, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), is scheduled to speak with Mayorkas later Sunday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was briefed on the assassination attempt, per the New York Democrat’s office.
Secret Service questions: Green is looking into allegations — vehemently denied by the Secret Service — that the Trump campaign sought increased security for the former president but the request was rebuffed.
“This is absolutely false,” said Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, on X. “In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo.”
Meanwhile, New York Reps. Ritchie Torres (D) and Mike Lawler (R) are introducing a bill that would provide “enhanced” Secret Service protection for Biden, Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy has complained for the last few months that he has not been afforded a Secret Service detail. Trump and Biden, of course, both have full-time protection. The bill will be out this week.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who will arrive in Milwaukee today for the Republican convention, was briefed Saturday. During an interview on NBC’s “Today” show, Johnson called on both sides to lower the political rhetoric. Here’s Johnson:
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) said his nephew — who was sitting in the “friends and family” section during the Trump rally — was grazed by a bullet during the assassination attempt. Jackson tells us his nephew is OK. The Texas Republican is close with Trump and was a former White House physician.
Political side: The Biden campaign announced Saturday night that it was “pausing” its TV ads and other campaign efforts for an indefinite period of time. Harris also canceled a planned campaign event in Palm Beach County, Fla., on Tuesday, the Palm Beach Post reported.
Democrats had a big “counter-programming” blitz planned for the Republican convention. But at this point, Democratic insiders are evaluating what, if any, events they should go forward with this week. The issue was still under review Sunday morning.
