Scrutiny increases of Secret Service security at Trump rally where assassination attempt occurred

While the investigation into the Saturday assassination attempt of Donald Trump continues, numerous congressional and other probes are examining how the U.S. Secret Service let a gunman within striking distance of the former president and Republican presidential nominee. 

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark E. Green, R-Tenn., on Tuesday invited Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray and USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify at a hearing on July 23 regarding security for the Pennsylvania campaign rally where a shooter killed one attendee, injured two others and grazed Trump’s ear. The suspected shooter was killed by USSS agents shortly after opening fire from a nearby rooftop. 

“Secretary Mayorkas and Director Cheatle are responsible for the department and the agency charged with securing our homeland and protecting our nation’s chief executives and candidates, while Director Wray leads the agency with the vital responsibility of investigating this attempted assassination. It is imperative that we partner to understand what went wrong, and how Congress can work with the departments and agencies to ensure this never happens again,” Green said in a statement. 

On Sunday, Green sent Mayorkas a letter requesting that the department by Friday provide the rally’s security plans and any documents and communications on potential increases to Trump’s security detail, among other information. 

Similarly, House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., on Monday sent Cheatle a letter requesting information as part of his panel’s investigation into the protective agency’s handling of the rally. 

Panel Republicans requested that the agency provide the following by Thursday:

• A list of law enforcement personnel with assignments to protect the former president at the rally. 
• All audio and video recordings in USSS possession relating to the event. 
• Any memorandum or notice issued by the director to agency personnel regarding the assassination attempt. 

They also requested that USSS provide additional information, including all documents and communications concerning agency protection for Trump at the rally, by July 29 and that personnel preserve all information regarding the rally. 

Cheatle is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on July 22 for a hearing on the assassination attempt.

Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced on Monday that they were launching an investigation into security failures related to the assassination attempt. 

And President Joe Biden has ordered an independent investigation of the assassination attempt. 

Cheatle has pledged to cooperate with the independent review as well as any congressional probes. 

Mayorkas told CNN on Monday that the assassination attempt against Trump amounted to a “failure” by USSS. 

The House Oversight Committee was already investigating the USSS following an April incident when an agent assigned to protect Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly fought with other agents. Harris was not present.