Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Calls for Security Review in Wake of Trump Assassination Attempt

The chairman of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican caucus has called for an investigation into security at a rally where a gunman shot at former President Donald Trump, wounding him, killing one spectator and seriously injuring two others.

House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) introduced the bill Friday resolution to establish a special commission to review the planning and coordination of law enforcement activities at the federal, state and local levels before and during the event to be held on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania, a hotly contested swing state, is expected to be a key part of the presidential race and control of the U.S. Senate this year and the site of numerous major political events. The commonwealth is also set to hold a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year.

“As federal law enforcement increasingly relies on state and local partners to supplement security protocols, it is imperative that we identify what happened from a state and local perspective on July 13 as we seek to improve our effectiveness in keeping citizens and candidates safe during their campaign events in Pennsylvania,” Cutler said in a statement.

For Cutler’s resolution to pass, it needs the support of Democratic Party leaders in the House of Representatives, whose spokesman has indicated that is unlikely.

“We will allow the FBI and the U.S. Congress to pursue this investigation with the full cooperation of state police and local law enforcement,” Elizabeth Rementer, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery), said in a statement.

Authorities say 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots from a nearby rooftop at Trump and the crowd at a rally at the Butler County Fairgrounds around 6:15 p.m. on July 13, using a semi-automatic rifle legally purchased by his father.

Since the shooting, it remains unclear how Crooks, who was killed by a security sniper, managed to avoid Secret Service and other law enforcement officers carrying his rifle to a vantage point from which they could clearly see Trump.

The proposed committee would work with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify safety practices that can be updated and implemented across law enforcement agencies “to ensure the safety of the public and high-visibility individuals visiting Pennsylvania.”

“The purpose of this commission is not to apportion blame, but to give law enforcement at the state and local level a voice so that we can collectively determine what happened and learn lessons on how to improve current practices,” Cutler said.

The committee would be made up of three Democratic House lawmakers appointed by Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) and three Republicans appointed by Cutler. The House speaker would also select the committee chairman.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has requested a hearing on the shooting involving Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. having to testify before the House Oversight Committee next week.

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