Three Pennsylvania lawmakers named to task force investigating Trump assassination attempt

Three members of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania have been chosen to join a bipartisan task force to investigate the failures that led to the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Republican Rep. Mike Kelly and Democratic Reps. Madeleine Dean and Chrissy Houlahan will be part of a group of 13 lawmakers selected by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.). The task force is expected to produce a final report by Dec. 13.

Kelly’s district in western Pennsylvania includes Butler County, where the attack occurred. Dean represents most of Montgomery County, while Houlahan’s district covers most of Chester County.

In a joint statement, Johnson and Jeffries said they have confidence in the elected members who “will establish the facts, ensure accountability, and help ensure that failures like this never happen again.”

Houlahan said she hopes the task force will find time to visit the shooting scene in Butler County.

“I think there’s nothing that can be considered being there, other than being there and understanding the landscape and the layout and trying to visualize things,” Houlahan said in an interview Monday.

An Air Force veteran and engineer, Houlahan said she plans to operate a data-driven approach to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting at a Trump rally in Butler County. Trump suffered a minor injury from a gunshot wound to the ear, and firefighter Corey Comperatore died. Two other people were injured.

She added that an crucial element would be reviewing the Secret Service budget and the resources the agency had at its disposal to prepare security measures for the day.

Despite the highly polarized atmosphere, Houlahan remained bullish that politics could be left out of the investigation while a bipartisan group searched for answers.

“I am pleased to see that the people selected by the speaker and leader are people I have worked with in the past and I consider them to be people of integrity and professionals who will approach this process professionally,” she said.