The congressional task force investigating the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is intensifying its efforts, requesting critical documents and briefings from several key federal agencies. The bipartisan task force, established by the House in a vote late last month, has formally asked the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, the FBI, and the Department of Justice to provide updates on the ongoing investigations into the July 13th shooting no later than August 16th. The task force aims to deliver a final report by December.
This request comes as the investigation into the assassination attempt, which took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, continues to reveal troubling details about the security lapses that allowed the attack to occur. Newly-released body camera footage from the scene has brought to light significant confusion and frustration among local law enforcement officers and the Secret Service during the incident.
The body camera videos show Butler Township Police officers struggling to communicate with the Secret Service in the moments leading up to the shooting. In one clip, a local officer is seen attempting to warn Secret Service agents about the potential danger from a rooftop area, which was eventually used by the would-be assassin to fire at Trump. The officer’s warnings appear to have gone unheeded, as the rooftop was not adequately secured.
Another clip captures the chaotic scene as backup arrives, with officers scrambling to locate the gunman. One officer is seen scaling a building to confront the shooter, only to fall to the ground in the process. The footage has raised serious questions about the coordination and effectiveness of the Secret Service’s protective measures on the day of the attack.
In the wake of these revelations, the director of the Secret Service resigned, underscoring the gravity of the agency’s failures. The resignation has fueled calls for a thorough investigation into how such a significant breach in security could occur, particularly during an event involving a former president.
The task force’s request for briefings is seen as a crucial step in understanding the full scope of the failures that led to the assassination attempt. Lawmakers are expected to scrutinize the actions of federal agencies, with a focus on identifying lapses in communication
