Comer announces probe into Trump shooting, will call Secret Service director to hearing
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced that his panel will open an investigation into the shooting against former President Donald Trump.
Comer (R-KY) revealed that he has already contacted the Secret Service and requested its director appear for a hearing on what authorities are investigating as an assassination attempt against the former president.
“I have already contacted the Secret Service for a briefing and am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing. The Oversight Committee will send a formal invitation soon,” Comer said in a statement.
Trump, 78, was delivering a speech at a rally in Butler, Pa. when multiple shots were fired just after 6 pm ET. The former president, who was seen with blood gushing from his right ear claimed afterward that he “felt the bullet ripping through my skin” and that he “was shot with a bullet.”
The suspected shooter, who has not yet been identified, was “neutralized by Secret Service, according to the agency. At least one rally-goer is dead and two other spectators were badly injured, per the Secret Service.
“My prayers are with President Trump and the victims of the assassination attempt at today’s rally in Pennsylvania. I thank the brave Secret Service members who put their lives at risk to protect President Trump and for the American patriots in the audience who helped others who were hurt,” Comer went on.
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
“Political violence in all forms is unamerican and unacceptable. There are many questions and Americans demand answers.”
The Post contacted the Secret Service for comment.
Trump was evaluated at Butler Memorial Hospital after the attack and the Secret Service as well as other law enforcement agencies are investigating the situation.
Saturday’s shooting against Trump marks the first time since the assassination attempt against Ronald Reagan that a gunman came close to killing a former or sitting US president.
One photo that circulated after the shooting showed a bullet whizzing what appears to have been inches away from Trump’s head.
Everything we know about the Trump assassination attempt
- 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
- Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
- The gunman grazed Trump’s ear, killed a 50-year-old retired fire chief, and injured two other rally-goers.
- Investigators detailed Crooks’ search history to lawmakers, revealing that he looked for the dates of Trump’s appearances and the Democratic National Convention.
- Crooks’ search history also revealed a broad interest in high-profile people and celebrities, regardless of their political affiliation, FBI officials reportedly said.
- Trump exclusively recounted surviving the “surreal” assassination attempt with The Post at the rally, remarking, “I’m supposed to be dead.”
- High-profile politicians, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, addressed the nation about the shooting, calling it “a heinous, horrible and cowardly act.”
President Biden, 81, condemned the attack on his chief political rival as “sick” in a public address and said that he was working to make contact with Trump.
“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country,” Biden said. “We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”
The shooting took place just ahead of the Republican National Convention which is set to commence in Milwaukee, Wisc. on Monday.
