Credit: Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said on Saturday that he would conduct a full investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump earlier in the day during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Shots were fired at Trump while he spoke to the crowd, and he was hit in the ear. After the shots rang out, Trump quickly dropped to the ground as he was instantly swarmed by Secret Service agents. The shooting left one innocent rally attendee dead and two in serious condition.
Johnson said he would have the head of the Secret Service testify about the security gaps that allowed the gunman to take shots at Trump.
“THE HOUSE WILL CONDUCT A FULL INVESTIGATION OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS TODAY. The American people deserve to know the truth. We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP,” Johnson posted on social media.
House Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said Saturday night that he had invited Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify on Monday before lawmakers.
“My prayers are with President Trump and the victims of the assassination attempt at today’s rally in Pennsylvania. I thank the brave Secret Service members who put their lives at risk to protect President Trump and for the American patriots in the audience who helped others who were hurt. Political violence in all forms is unamerican (sic) and unacceptable. There are many questions and Americans demand answers,” Comer said on Saturday.
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley also demanded that Congress investigate the assassination attempt.
“It’s a wonder Donald Trump is alive. Let’s call this what it was. An assassination attempt with at least one innocent bystander murdered. The nation needs to know who did this. And why. And we need a full, public investigation by Congress into HOW it happened,” he said.
After the gunman was neutralized, Trump got up and raised his fist, then signaled to the crowd to “fight” as the Secret Service rushed him off stage.
Trump confirmed that he was shot in a statement issued about two hours after the shooting.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump said in a statement posted to social media. “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.”
The FBI is reportedly leading the investigation into the shooting, and the gunman has not been identified.
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