With the criminal probe into the shooting of former President Donald Trump just starting, Congress has already begun its own investigations into the deadly incident. Expect these investigations to include private briefings and lots of public grillings.
The Secret Service has come under intense scrutiny for its handling of security at Trump’s Saturday rally, including how the shooter got within 150 yards of the former president. One person was killed in the failed assassination attempt and several more injured. The shooter was also killed.
The House Homeland Security Committee is expected to receive a virtual briefing today from the Secret Service. The panel’s chair, Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), spoke with USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle on Sunday. Green has requested documents outlining the Secret Service’s security plan for the rally and is planning to hold a hearing as soon as next week.
The House Oversight Committee also expects to have a private briefing soon. Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has been in touch with the agency and asked Cheatle to testify on July 22.
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) is calling for an independent commission to look into the shooting. Duncan spoke with Speaker Mike Johnson and Green via text on Sunday, and there “is an agreement” on this proposal, according to a person familiar with the situation.
“We cannot rely just on Congressional Oversight hearings or even Agency Inspector Generals to get the answers that Congress and the American people deserve about the failures to protect President Trump adequately,” Duncan said in a statement.
Calls for calm. Leaders on both sides urged restraint even as wild conspiracy claims were being made by figures in both parties. The Biden and Trump presidential campaigns, as well as the national party committees, have hit the pause button temporarily, although that’s not expected to last long with the election just 113 days away.
During a Sunday Oval Office address, President Joe Biden declared it was “time to cool it down.”
“Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy,” Biden said during his brief remarks. “But politics must never be a literal battlefield and, God forbid, a killing field.”
This was the third time Biden had spoken publicly about the Trump shooting. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will get an update this morning from Homeland Security and law enforcement officials on the investigation into the incident. Biden — who’s gotten a momentary reprieve from his Democratic critics — will do an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt today and then head to Las Vegas for appearances before the NAACP and UnidosUS later this week.
For his part, Trump told the Washington Examiner’s Salena Zito that he’d changed his convention speech in order to help “bring the country together.”
“This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago,” Trump said.
The main event. The Republican National Convention kicks off today in Milwaukee. By the end of the week, Trump will formally be the GOP nominee. And for Congress watchers, Mike Johnson will have been speaker for as long as Kevin McCarthy.
During a call on Sunday with the House Sergeant at Arms, GOP members were told to expect a stepped-up security presence at the convention and airports. Lawmakers may also request additional security for their districts or any events they’re attending.
The House and Senate leadership are big-time VIPs at the convention. They’re sought after for fundraisers, state delegation events and briefings. Here’s where the leaders will be in Milwaukee this week:
– Johnson will host a Louisiana GOP event, meet with state groups including the Pennsylvania and North Carolina delegations, speak at an NRCC welcome brunch, meet with the Republican Jewish Coalition and participate in a Congressional Leadership Fund briefing with the rest of the House GOP leadership.
– Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has remained mum about what exactly he’ll be up to this week, but the Kentucky Republican will have official duties at the convention given his role as chair of the state’s delegation. McConnell spoke Sunday night at the Kentucky kickoff event.
– Senate Minority Whip John Thune is scheduled to hold meetings with candidates, donors, delegates and others throughout the week. Thune is running to succeed McConnell as Senate GOP leader, so these one-on-one meetings are important as he looks to build support for his bid. He’s also speaking at a public event focused on agriculture policy. More on Thune below.
– Senate GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso is co-hosting the “Brewing a Majority” event with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise on Wednesday night at the Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery. Barrasso also has private meetings lined up with Trump and his son Don Jr.
– Scalise is headlining a warehouse party Monday night to celebrate the House Republican Conference. The event will benefit the Party of Hope Charity, which will be making a donation to the U.S. Capitol Police Foundation. The Louisiana Republican will give a speech at the convention.
– House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Minnesota state chair of Trump’s 2024 campaign, will participate in a delegation luncheon, as well as the “United to Win” reception being hosted by the party committees. Emmer will attend a number of NRCC and CLF events throughout the week and is also giving a convention speech.
– House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, who will chair New York’s delegation during the convention, will welcome the delegation Monday and host a brunch Tuesday honoring female lawmakers. Johnson will be a special guest. On Thursday, the Trump Women’s Leadership Coalition is holding a luncheon featuring Stefanik, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). Stefanik has a speaking slot at the convention.
