House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has subpoenaed Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify before the committee after the Biden regime failed to confirm her appearance at a scheduled hearing.
House Republicans are conducting a full investigation into the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, saying there are many questions and Americans need answers.
Chief among the questions is why no law enforcement officer was stationed on the roof of the building used by Thomas Crooks to shoot at former President Trump during the rally. Several bullets passed within millimeters of Trumps head, at least one grazing his ear. Two rallygoers were hurt, and Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, was tragically killed by stray bullets while shielding his wife and daughter.
An “unimpeachable source” reportedly told former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino that a police officer was supposed to be stationed on the roof of the American Glass Research building, but he didn’t show up to work that day. Meanwhile, there are conflicting reports as to the level of Secret Service protection Trump was receiving.
Now, the Washington Post is reporting that, according to Richard Goldinger, the district attorney in Butler County, Pa., the Secret Service “was informed that the local police department did not have manpower to assist with securing that building.”
“Goldinger’s account was confirmed by a Secret Service official briefed on the incident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid about a sensitive, ongoing investigation,” the Post reported.
Crooks, according to CNN, first aroused suspicion at 3 p.m. Saturday, roughly three hours before the shooting, when he was spotted at the security screening area for the rally.
A senior law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said Crooks passed through the magnetometers carrying a rifle rangefinder, “which looks similar to a small pair of binoculars and is used by hunters and target shooters to measure distances when setting up a long-range shot,” CNN reported.
The rangefinder would not have prevented Crooks from getting through the security screening point, but it did attract the attention of security personnel who kept an eye on him until he left the secure area.
Investigators are unsure of where Crooks went after he left the screening area but the working theory is that he went to his car to retrieve the rifle.
Crooks was reportedly able to reach the rooftop by “climbing on top of the building’s air conditioning system and hoisting himself up.”
Incredibly, after witnesses alerted police that Crooks was crawling around on that roof, “one of the four counter-sniper teams observed Crooks looking at their position through the rangefinder,” the senior law enforcement official told CNN.
“They were looking at him while he was looking at them,” the official said.
In a letter to Cheatle on Wednesday, Comer noted that both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secret Service had “failed to provide assurances” regarding her appearance at the Oversight Committee’s July 22 hearing, despite allowing her to speak to friendly media.
“Initially, the Secret Service committed to your attendance. Subsequently, however, DHS officials appear to have intervened and your attendance is now in question, Comer wrote.
“In addition, since DHS’s intervention, there have been no meaningful updates or information shared with the Committee. The lack of transparency and failure to cooperate with the Committee on this pressing matter by both DHS and the Secret Service further calls into question your ability to lead the Secret Service and necessitates the attached subpoena compelling your appearance before the Oversight Committee.”
The House Judiciary Committee, meanwhile, announced Wednesday that it will hold a hearing “to examine the FBI’s investigation into the assassination attempt against President Trump and the ongoing politicization of the Bureau.”
Update:
The Secret Service briefed the Senate in a conference call Wednesday afternoon, only taking a few questions and leaving multiple Republican senators waiting in the queue.
While the call was described by some GOPers as “unbelievably uninformative” and unhelpful, some new information was reportedly shared.
Some major takeaways via Punchbowl News:
—The shooter visited the rally site a few days in advance to scope it out
—62 mins elapsed between the time the shooter was photographed as being suspicious and when he fired the shots
—20 mins elapsed between the time he was spotted by snipers & when he fired the shots
—FBI Director Wray said there’s no known foreign nexus but no established motive as of now. Shooter used encrypted comms and had little to no social media presence
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced Wednesday that the House will set up a bipartisan task force to investigate the shooting when the House returns from recess.
“I will set up on Monday a task force, special task force within the House. The reason we’ll do it that way is because it’s a more precision strike, it goes quicker,” Johnson told Fox News. “There is not a lot of procedural hurdles and we’ll have subpoena authority with the task force, as well. It will be compiled of Republicans and Democrats to get down to the bottom of this quickly so the American people can get the answers they deserve.”
The speaker also said he will call on Cheatle to resign.
Update:
Cheatle agreed to comply with Comer’s subpoena and wull appear for the July 22 hearing, Oversight Republicans announced on X, Wednesday evening.
“Americans demand and deserve answers from Director Cheatle about the attempted assassination of President Trump and the Secret Service’s egregious failures,” the Oversight GOP said.
Update:
US Department of Homeland Security inspector general Joseph Cuffari announced Wednesday that he has launched two investigations into the Secret Service’s handling of security at the Trump rally.
The watchdog said in a press release:
On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated a review to examine the process implemented by the United States Secret Service (USSS) to secure a political campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.
On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, DHS OIG initiated a review of USSS Counter Sniper Team preparedness and operations. Our objective is to determine the extent to which the Secret Service Counter Sniper Team is prepared for, and responds to, threats at events attended by designated protectees.
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