A bipartisan congressional task force, including Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler and Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, visited the Butler Farm Show grounds in Butler County to assess the site of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The task force was created after a gunman opened fire at Trump’s rally on July 13, causing injuries to Trump, David Dutch, and Jim Copenhaver, and resulting in the death of Corey Comperatore. The task force was investigating the security lapses that allowed the gunman to shoot at the former president.
During the visit, members of the task force, including Kelly and Crow, toured the venue and surrounding areas to get a firsthand look at the space. They also met with local law enforcement officials to discuss the events that took place that day. One of the most significant moments of the tour was when the task force members were on the roof of the AGR building where the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had fired eight shots. The members noted how small the farm show space is and how close the buildings are to each other, raising concerns about the security of the area.
The task force members expressed that the visit raised more questions and highlighted the security shortcomings that took place during the attempted assassination. They emphasized the importance of physically walking the grounds to understand the space and where the security lapses occurred. Kelly, who co-chairs the task force, expressed his confusion about why Trump was allowed to go on stage when law enforcement had already spotted the gunman on the roof. The task force also stated that they have not received all the documents they requested from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Secret Service, and the FBI.
The motive for the shooting is still unclear, and the gunman’s parents have hired a lawyer. Following the U.S. Secret Service’s investigation into the attempted assassination, five people were put on leave, including the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office and three other officials from the Pittsburgh office. A new report revealed that a Butler SWAT operator had shot the gunman’s gun from around 100 yards away, causing fragments to strike his face, neck, and right shoulder area. This delayed the gunman long enough for a U.S. Secret Service sniper to take the fatal shot.
Overall, the task force’s visit to the site of the attempted assassination provided valuable insights into the events that took place and the security lapses that occurred. The members emphasized the importance of understanding the physical space where the shooting occurred and the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind the incident. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing to determine any policy violations or operational failures that led to the security shortcomings during the rally. Members of the task force are committed to finding the right answers, even if it means a slow process of uncovering the truth.
