House Establishes Commission to Investigate Trump Shooting Attempt

The House of Representatives has unanimously approved the creation of a bipartisan commission to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The task force will be composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats and will have subpoena power.

The House of Representatives has unanimously voted to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The task force will be comprised of seven Republicans and six Democrats, with the members likely being announced this week.

House GOP leaders raced the bill to the floor after the deadly shooting at Trump's Butler, Pennsylvania, rally nearly two weeks ago. One attendee died, and two others were injured, with Trump himself getting shot in the ear and evacuated off the stage by the Secret Service.

House Establishes Commission to Investigate Trump Shooting Attempt

The vote was bipartisan, as expected — the hours following the shooting prompted a flurry of bipartisan condemnations against political violence, as well as scrutiny of the security situation that allowed a 20-year-old gunman with a rifle onto a rooftop just outside the rally perimeter.

"The security failures that allowed an assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life are shocking. In response to bipartisan demands for answers, we are announcing a House Task Force made up of seven Republicans and six Democrats to thoroughly investigate the matter," Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement on Tuesday. "The task force will be empowered with subpoena authority and will move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability, and make certain such failures never happen again."

House Establishes Commission to Investigate Trump Shooting Attempt

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on Wednesday, revealing that the shooter, Nicholas Roske, had researched the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and had a stash of explosives and weapons in his car.

"Roske traveled to the rally with the intent to kill Trump," Wray said. "He had a rifle, ammunition, and a detailed plan of attack."

House Establishes Commission to Investigate Trump Shooting Attempt

Wray also said that the Secret Service was aware of Roske's social media posts and online activities, but did not have enough information to prevent him from attending the rally.

The House commission will investigate the security failures that allowed Roske to bring a gun onto the rally grounds, as well as the Secret Service's response to the attack. The commission is expected to issue a report with its findings and recommendations within six months.

House Establishes Commission to Investigate Trump Shooting Attempt

The establishment of the commission is a major step forward in the investigation of the Trump shooting attempt. The commission will have the authority to subpoena witnesses and documents, and its findings will help to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.