Butler legislator's bill to shape House probe into security lapses at Trump rally shooting

The U.S. House plans to create a bipartisan task force to investigate security lapses that led to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, and it will be based on a resolution introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democrat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Tuesday they’ve struck a deal to launch the inquiry with the goal of producing a final report and recommendations to prevent future incidents.

“The security failures that allowed an assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life are shocking,” Johnson and Jeffries said in a joint statement. “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.”

The task force will comprise seven Republicans and six Democrats, giving a one-member advantage to Republicans, who control the lower chamber. Kelly is interested in serving on the task force, said Matt Knoedler, Kelly’s communications director.

A vote on Kelly’s bill is expected sometime this week.

“We must never let something like this happen again,” said Kelly, whose district includes Butler Township, where the assassination attempt took place. “It’s important that we don’t jump to any conclusions as we begin these investigations. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get the American people the answers they deserve.”

Law enforcement and, in particular, the Secret Service have come under withering criticism since Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park climbed onto a building July 13 at the Butler Farm Show grounds and fired several shots at Trump. One grazed his ear.

Early Tuesday, the White House announced that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle had resigned. Her appearance Monday before the House’s Oversight Committee was blistering, with lawmakers from both parties frustrated that Cheatle was providing few answers to their questions. Several committee members from both parties openly called for Cheatle to resign or be fired.

In addition to the shot that wounded Trump, investigators say Crooks fired shots that killed Corey Comperatore, 50, of Buffalo Township and seriously wounded two other men, David Dutch, 57, of Plum and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon.

Kelly introduced another resolution Monday that would honor Comperatore. It had garnered 70 co-sponsors as of early Tuesday afternoon.

“Corey Comperatore exemplified what it means to be a man of service and sacrifice to his community, his country and, most of all, his family,” Kelly said. “This resolution is just one way members of Congress can honor his life and pay tribute to a true hero.”