WASHINGTON — Top leaders in Congress were quick to join in the rebuke failed assassination attempt Donald Trump demanded briefings and scheduled investigations into the incident that left the former president injured at a rally on Saturday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “Congress will conduct a thorough investigation into yesterday’s tragedy to determine where security and everything else the American people need and deserve to know.” said on Sunday “TODAY“ to show. “But in the meantime, we need to turn back the rhetoric. We have to lower the temperature in this country.”
Johnson said he had “received briefings from law enforcement” and asked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “pointing questions” on Saturday night.
Democrats gathered on Capitol Hill also condemned the shooting.
“I am horrified by what happened at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. There is no place for political violence in our country”, – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y. His office said it was informed about the latest developments after the incident.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer has asked Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify at a July 22 hearing. House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., demanded a response from Mayorkas in a letter Sunday.
In a separate letter to Cheatle, Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., demanded answers about the security breach at the Trump rally, including whether the Trump campaign requested additional protection and whether those resources should be denied.
Gallego, a military veteran, wrote that the shooting “raises serious concerns about the security measures, or lack thereof, put in place to protect the former president of the United States and a leading presidential candidate.”
“I call on all those responsible for the planning, approval and execution of this failed security plan to be held accountable and testify before Congress immediately,” Gallego said. In a letter first obtained by NBC News.
As of Sunday morning, the “Gang of Eight” — the top four leaders and four key figures on the intelligence committee — had not been briefed on the shooting, despite individual members contacting the FBI, Secret Service, administration officials and law enforcement. A source with direct knowledge of this told NBC News.
One reason for the lack of a quick briefing is that lawmakers are spread across the country, given the congressional recess and the upcoming Republican convention. At the same time, it is difficult to connect the entire group on a secure line, the source said.
Another reason, the source added, is that the investigation may be too early for such a briefing.
Representatives Mike Lawler, RN.Y. and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., announced after the shooting that they would propose a bill that would provide “President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. Enhanced Secret Service protection.”
A notice sent by the Senate Notification Center after Saturday’s assassination attempt told Senate offices that Capitol Police were “not following up on any additional threats against Members.”
“Capitol police are coordinating to provide additional support at both the Republican and Democratic National Convention events,” the statement added.
Home offices received a similar notice earlier that night, and members will receive a virtual security briefing Monday afternoon, according to two people invited.
Senator Rick Scott has called on the Democratic-controlled Senate Homeland Security Committee to investigate the shooting before August 1st, and to “demand answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Secret Service.” how it happened and what steps are being taken to investigate this attempted assassination and prevent it from happening again.”
Two members of the committee, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Jackie Rosen, D-Nev., also called for an investigation.
“We need more details and answers about the assassination attempt against former President Trump so that there is accountability and we can ensure that this never happens again. As a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I am calling for hearings to investigate,” Rosen X said.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who herself has been a target of political violence in the past, said in a statement from California, “As someone whose family has been a victim of political violence, I know firsthand that there is no place for political violence of any kind. our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”