Trump Assassination Attempt The leaders of both major parties in the House of Representatives have reached an agreement to create a joint task force aimed at conducting a thorough investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump.
Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have forged a bipartisan deal to establish this task force, which will be predominantly led by Republicans, reflecting their current control of the House.
Nevertheless, it will maintain a nearly equal balance between Republican and Democratic members, underscoring its bipartisan nature.
In a joint statement, Mr. Johnson (R-Louisiana) and Mr. Jeffries (D-New York) emphasized the urgency of addressing the security lapses that allowed the attempted assassination. They stated that the task force will wield subpoena power and move swiftly to uncover the facts, ensure accountability, and prevent such security failures in the future.
The task force, they announced, is a direct response to bipartisan calls for clarity and action following the attempt on Mr. Trump's life. It will consist of seven Republicans and six Democrats, a notably narrow partisan split compared to typical House committees. The legislative process to establish this task force is expected to proceed swiftly, with full House approval anticipated by Wednesday.
The primary objective of the investigation will be to meticulously examine the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination, hold individuals accountable, and recommend measures to bolster security protocols. Upon concluding its inquiry, the task force plans to propose reforms for government agencies and potentially recommend legislative actions to avert similar security breaches.
The investigation into the assassination attempt has become a rare instance of bipartisan consensus in Congress.
Just recently, the bipartisan leaders of the Oversight Committee jointly called for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle following a critical hearing. Director Cheatle tendered her resignation on Tuesday morning, which was accepted by President Biden.