House lawmakers are pressing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to give them answers on security lapses that allowed a would-be-assassin to shoot former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) sent a letter to Mayorkas on Sunday asking him to explain how 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to gain access to a rooftop and take several shots at Trump. The attack injured the former president and two other rally attendees, and left 50-year-old Corey Comperatore dead.
“The seriousness of this security failure and chilling moment in our nation’s history cannot be understated,” Green wrote. “No assassination attempt has come so close to taking the life of a president or presidential candidate since President Reagan was shot in 1981. Had the bullet’s trajectory been slightly different, the assassination attempt on President Trump might have succeeded.”
During the attack, a bullet grazed Trump, taking out a portion of his ear and bloodying his face. After hearing gunfire, Trump dropped to the ground and was covered by Secret Service agents.
Green said the fact that the gunman was able to get on a rooftop and get clear shots off at Trump showed a major security lapse.
“This raises serious concerns regarding how a shooter was able to access a rooftop within range and direct line of sight of where President Trump was speaking,” Green said. “Additionally, some reporting, suggests that the Department of Homeland Security (Department) ‘rebuffed’ multiple requests from President Trump’s security detail to increase protective resources in the weeks preceding this event.”
In light of that information, Green is asking Mayorkas to provide documentation showing Secret Service plans to secure the venue prior to the rally and information on protocol about dealing with a potential assassin. He also requested information on whether Trump was denied additional security before the attack.
Green additionally asked Homeland Security to provide a briefing about the assassination attempt by July 22.
During a White House briefing on Monday, Mayorkas said that he was thankful for the quick response of the Secret Service to the attack. He said that the attack was “unacceptable” and that securing the safety of Trump and President Joe Biden was one of the agency’s most vital priorities.
Other House Republicans are seeking to question Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle over the assassination attempt. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) announced Monday that Cheatle would be testifying in public before the House Oversight Committee.
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[[{“value”:”
House lawmakers are pressing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to give them answers on security lapses that allowed a would-be-assassin to shoot former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) sent a letter to Mayorkas on Sunday asking him to explain how 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to gain access to a rooftop and take several shots at Trump. The attack injured the former president and two other rally attendees, and left 50-year-old Corey Comperatore dead.
“The seriousness of this security failure and chilling moment in our nation’s history cannot be understated,” Green wrote. “No assassination attempt has come so close to taking the life of a president or presidential candidate since President Reagan was shot in 1981. Had the bullet’s trajectory been slightly different, the assassination attempt on President Trump might have succeeded.”
During the attack, a bullet grazed Trump, taking out a portion of his ear and bloodying his face. After hearing gunfire, Trump dropped to the ground and was covered by Secret Service agents.
Green said the fact that the gunman was able to get on a rooftop and get clear shots off at Trump showed a major security lapse.
“This raises serious concerns regarding how a shooter was able to access a rooftop within range and direct line of sight of where President Trump was speaking,” Green said. “Additionally, some reporting, suggests that the Department of Homeland Security (Department) ‘rebuffed’ multiple requests from President Trump’s security detail to increase protective resources in the weeks preceding this event.”
In light of that information, Green is asking Mayorkas to provide documentation showing Secret Service plans to secure the venue prior to the rally and information on protocol about dealing with a potential assassin. He also requested information on whether Trump was denied additional security before the attack.
Green additionally asked Homeland Security to provide a briefing about the assassination attempt by July 22.
During a White House briefing on Monday, Mayorkas said that he was thankful for the quick response of the Secret Service to the attack. He said that the attack was “unacceptable” and that securing the safety of Trump and President Joe Biden was one of the agency’s most vital priorities.
Other House Republicans are seeking to question Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle over the assassination attempt. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) announced Monday that Cheatle would be testifying in public before the House Oversight Committee.
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