Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), calling on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chairman to immediately launch an investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally yesterday.
“This HSGAC investigation must include public testimony, hearings, and robust oversight over the relevant federal departments as they respond to this assassination attempt. Sworn testimony must be heard from Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. Nothing should be classified or withheld from the public,” wrote Senator Hawley.
“Our prayers are with President Trump, the family of the slain American, and the innocent civilians who were injured. We owe it to the victims and the American people to get to the bottom of what happened. The American people have questions. And they deserve answers,” he concluded.
Senator Hawley previously released statements following yesterday’s shooting, condemning the political violence and demanding answers from President Biden’s Justice Department on the identity of the shooter.
July 14, 2024
The Hon. Gary Peters
Chairman
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
340 Senate Dirksen Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Peters:
Yesterday, the world witnessed an assassination attempt on Donald J. Trump—the former president and presumptive Republican nominee for the presidency. President Trump has stated that he was shot in the upper part of his ear; he was nearly killed. One civilian at the Pennsylvania rally was murdered and two were critically injured. There is no place for this egregious violence in our republic. These events warrant an immediate, comprehensive, and public congressional investigation.
Although we still do not have all the facts, the little that we do know suggests a staggering security failure. Evidently, the shooter was able to gain an elevated position on a rooftop with a clear line of sight of the President, well within accurate range, with a firearm. The details of this tragedy must be vigorously investigated by Congress, including the motive of the shooter, and the serious operational failures that occurred on July 13.
These matters fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC), which includes oversight over the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Secret Service. I call on you to launch a full, public, and comprehensive committee investigation into this assassination attempt and failures to adequately protect the former president. This HSGAC investigation must include public testimony, hearings, and robust oversight over the relevant federal departments as they respond to this assassination attempt. Sworn testimony must be heard from Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. Nothing should be classified or withheld from the public.
Our prayers are with President Trump, the family of the slain American, and the innocent civilians who were injured. We owe it to the victims and the American people to get to the bottom of what happened. The American people have questions. And they deserve answers.
Sincerely,
Josh Hawley
United States Senator