The House is set to vote this week on establishing a bipartisan task force to investigate the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
The resolution would establish an 11-member panel — six Republicans and five Democrats. It’s currently teed up to get a vote under suspension, meaning a higher passage threshold that will require Democratic help.
The move to establish the task force, which was added to the House’s weekly schedule on Sunday night, comes as multiple congressional panels have already teed up probes into the shooting. But Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated he wants to use the task force to focus the House’s efforts. He is expected to release additional details Monday.
The resolution would also require the task force to make a final report on its findings and legislative proposals no later than Dec. 13.
Much of the early congressional ire has been focused on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who will appear before the House Oversight Committee starting at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) will tell Cheatle when she appears before his panel that it is his “firm belief” that she should resign, according to excerpts of his opening statement obtained by POLITICO.
“However — in complete defiance — Director Cheatle has maintained she will not tender her resignation. Therefore, she will answer questions today from members of this committee seeking to provide clarity to the American people about how these events were allowed to transpire,” Comer will say, according to the excerpts.
It’s not just Republicans who are calling for her resignation. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) became the first House Democrat to call for Cheatle’s resignation over the weekend, saying that “evidence coming to light has shown unacceptable operational failures” and that he has “no confidence” in Secret Service leadership if she stays.
Cheatle, according to excerpts of her own opening statement, will tell lawmakers that she takes “full responsibility for any security lapse” and will cooperate with congressional oversight and other investigations.
“We must learn what happened and I will move heaven and earth to ensure an incident like July 13th does not happen again. Thinking about what we should have done differently is never far from my thoughts,” she will add.
In addition to the Oversight hearing, House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) is leading a bipartisan visit to the site of Trump’s rally on Monday. FBI Director Christopher Wray will testify before the House Judiciary panel on Wednesday, and the House is also expected to get a classified briefing this week.
Green on Monday said that Cheatle “has rightfully admitted the near assassination of a former president was a failure. She even said the buck stops with her.”
“For the good of this country, Director Cheatle must resign immediately,” he added.
