Pa. House GOP leader calls for review of security around Trump assassination attempt

Law enforcement agents stand near the stage of a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The head of Pennsylvania’s state House GOP caucus called for an investigation of security measures at the rally where a gunman shot at former President Donald Trump, wounding him, killing a spectator and seriously injuring two others.

House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) on Friday introduced a resolution to establish a select committee to review planning and coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement before and during the event Saturday in Butler, Pa.

A hotly contested swing state, Pennsylvania is expected to be pivotal in the presidential race and for control of the U.S. Senate this year and the site of numerous high profile political events. The commonwealth is also set to host 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 we identify what happened from a state and local perspective on July 13, as we seek to perfect our effectiveness at keeping citizens and candidates safe as they host campaign events in Pennsylvania,” Cutler said in a statement.

To pass, Cutler’s resolution would need support from House Democratic leaders, whose spokesperson indicated that was unlikely.

“We’ll let the FBI and U.S. Congress handle this investigation with the full cooperation of the State Police and local law enforcement,” Elizabeth Rementer, spokesperson 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 toward Trump and the crowd at a rally on the Butler County Fairgrounds around 6:15 p.m. July 13 using a semi-automatic rifle purchased legally by his father. 

Since the shooting, questions remain about how Crooks, who was killed by a security team sniper, was able to avoid the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement to carry the rifle to a vantage point with a clear view of Trump.

The proposed committee would be responsible to work with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify security practices that can be updated and implemented among law enforcement agencies “to ensure the safety and security of the public and highly visible individuals visiting Pennsylvania.”

“The purpose of this committee is not to assign blame, but rather give state and local law enforcement a voice so we can collectively identify what happened and learn to improve upon current practices,” Cutler said.

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

The GOP-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has called for hearings into the shooting, with Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle slated to testify before the House Oversight Committee next week.

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