The Trump assassination task team on Capitol Hill pledges a comprehensive probe and rejects hasty judgments.
After touring the Pennsylvania rally site where the shooting occurred, members of the bipartisan congressional task force tasked with looking into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump pledged on Monday to investigate the security lapses of that day, even if it would be a "slow process."
Legislators toured the Butler Farm Show grounds, the site of the July 13 event, escorted by members of the local law enforcement, including the Butler County Sheriff and the Pennsylvania state police. They started their tour at the location where Trump took the stage and was shot. The legislators then proceeded to cross a short field to a group of buildings and ascended to the roof from which Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman, had fired.
Members of the task group stated repeatedly during a news conference in front of the rally's field that their objective was to identify the key players for the day's mistakes rather than drawing hasty conclusions about them.
Butler is in the district of task committee chairman Mike Kelly, who noted that "getting to the truth is a slow process."
The House approved the bipartisan task force, which consists of six Democrats and seven Republicans, by a vote of 416 to 0. However, the appointment of the members of the task force comes at a politically sensitive moment as they attempt to convince both parties that they are conducting a thorough investigation into the attempted assassination.
While Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Speaker Mike Johnson have urged members to set aside their political differences in order to focus on the investigation, a group of devoted supporters of President Trump convened their own forum in Washington, DC, on Monday, criticizing federal officials and demanding swift and severe consequences.
Kelly added that it was "too early" to conclude whether anyone responsible for the mistakes made that day engaged in criminal negligence.
Kelly criticized other senators for being eager to demand harsh measures against federal law enforcement participating in that day's events, saying, "Let's make sure that we're sure when we say something, because this has lasting effects on people."
Rep. Lou Correa stated that the task group is still investigating who was ultimately in charge of making decisions on security planning, adding that Trump's campaign security team was involved.
"The campaign had a lot to do" with preparedness, Correa remarked, raising the question of who has the last word when it comes to specific security planning—the Secret Service or the campaign.
Former Army Ranger Jason Crow, a ranking member, emphasized the task force's bipartisanship. The 13 lawmakers have until mid-December to release the investigation's final conclusion and recommendations.
"Anyone can argue that political violence has no place," said Crow, adding that the group's primary goal was to conduct a "full, thorough investigation."
A number of delegates also expressed how personally affected they were to witness firsthand how near Crooks was able to get to Trump on the day of the massacre.
Rep. Madeleine Dean remarked, "I find it impressive how close everything is here, especially the position of the shooter and the president."
In addition, a group of conservative congressmen who were not connected to the task force and lacked any meaningful investigative authority convened a counterprogramming event in Washington, DC, focusing on their own investigations into the assassination attempt.
"Although this is the initial hearing of its kind to come together, it won't be the last," Republican congressman Cory Mills declared as the event's host. Chip Roy, Matt Gaetz, Andy Biggs, and Eli Crane.
"That we will keep pushing for accountability, that independent investigations like this one will continue, and that some members and conservatives won't go silent. in government, as well as transparency for America," stated Mills, "if we are not selecting people based on meritocracy."
