On Wednesday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution officially establishing a bipartisan special task force to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13th.
The resolution was passed in the House with 416 votes in favor and 0 against.
On July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler City, Pennsylvania, former President Trump, the Republican candidate for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, was shot at. Although Trump miraculously escaped unharmed, he suffered an injury to his right ear. The incident also resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in Pennsylvania, and injuries to two other individuals.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the formation of the bipartisan special task force to investigate the attack on Trump.
The task force consists of 13 members of the House, including 7 Republicans and 6 Democrats. This special task force has subpoena power and will question relevant witnesses.
Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a joint statement earlier this week, revealing some details of the special task force.
Johnson stated that the members joining this group “will be individuals with expertise in relevant fields.”
This bipartisan special task force is expected to complete its final report by December 13, with interim reports expected during the process.
Pennsylvania Representative Mike Kelly, who was sitting in the front row at the Trump rally when the attack occurred, was a key proponent of the resolution establishing the special task force.
“The aim of this legislation and the special task force is simple: to investigate, detail, and explain the shooting incident and security loopholes that led to one death, two injuries, and nearly took Trump’s life,” Representative Kelly said. “We cannot allow such incidents to happen again.”
He added, “It’s crucial that we don’t rush to conclusions as we begin the investigation. I look forward to working with my colleagues to find the answers that the American people deserve to know.”
During his speech in the House, Kelly paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, who lost his life in the attack, and remembered his contributions to his family, community, and country.
As the House special task force was established, several committees in the U.S. Congress are also investigating the attempted assassination.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, providing lawmakers with some new details on the assassination attempt but stating that the motive of the gunman is still unclear.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Homeland Security held its first hearing on the shooting on Tuesday and visited the scene on Monday to gather more clues from individuals with information.
The House Oversight Committee is also conducting an investigation into the shooting and questioned former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Monday. Cheatle resigned on Tuesday.