U.S. Secret Service boss to testify to congressional panel on Trump shooting
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has agreed to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee on July 22 for a hearing related to the shooting of former President Donald Trump at a rally, the panel said on Wednesday.
Why it is important
Security at the Republican presidential candidate’s rally in Pennsylvania has been under scrutiny after the former president was shot on Saturday at the event. The FBI said it was probing the shooting as an assassination attempt.
The shooting has raised serious concerns about how the suspect was able to access a nearby rooftop with a direct line of sight to where Trump was speaking.
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Trump has since said he was doing well and has appeared at the Republican National Convention this week but the shooting left his face streaked with blood after his right ear was hit. A rally attendee was killed in the shooting, two others were wounded and the suspect is dead.
Key quotes
“Americans demand and deserve answers from Director Cheatle about the attempted assassination of President Trump and the Secret Service’s egregious failures,” the Republican-led House oversight panel said on Wednesday, adding Cheatle agreed to comply with a subpoena issued by the committee’s chair.
“The hearing will take place as scheduled on Monday, July 22,” the panel added.
Context
Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden, who will face Republican Trump in November’s election, said on Sunday he had ordered an independent review, and Republican lawmakers in Congress have also vowed swift investigations.
Cheatle said on Monday the Trump rally shooting was “unacceptable” and that she would not resign her post. Top Republicans in the U.S. Congress called on Wednesday for her to resign.
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting presidents and former presidents.
What are the questions arising from the Donald Trump shooting incident?
The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania has raised several questions and concerns:
- Gunman’s Motive: The motive behind the attack by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks remains unclear. Investigators are trying to determine if he was politically motivated or had any extremist ideologies.
- Security Flaws: There are mounting questions about the security flaws that allowed the shooter to fire from a rooftop near the rally. The U.S. Secret Service is under scrutiny for lapses in security that enabled the attack.
- Response Time: Cellphone video shows rally attendees alerting authorities about the shooter two minutes before he opened fire. Questions have been raised about the response time and preparedness of security personnel.
- Law Enforcement Actions: Details about law enforcement actions before and during the shooting, including a sniper spotting the gunman with a rangefinder, have prompted inquiries into how the situation was handled.
- Investigations: The FBI is investigating whether Crooks was a homegrown domestic violent extremist, while the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general is looking into the planning of the rally to identify any shortcomings.
- Communication and Transparency: Concerns have been raised about communication between agencies and officials regarding security briefings and responses leading up to and after the assassination attempt.
- Medical Updates: There is a lack of detailed information on Trump’s injuries, treatment received at Butler Memorial Hospital, and potential long-term effects on his health following the shooting.
- Public Statements: The absence of official statements from Trump’s campaign regarding his condition post-shooting has led to speculation and reliance on updates from allies like Rep. Ronny Jackson.
These questions highlight various aspects surrounding the shooting incident that require further investigation and clarification.
