Task force looks for answers in trip to site of attempted Trump assassination
Members of the task force on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump visited the Butler Farm Show grounds in Butler County to assess the site where the shooting took place. The incident occurred on July 13 when a gunman opened fire at Trump’s rally on the farm show grounds in Butler Township. This led to a bipartisan congressional task force being formed to investigate the event and the security lapses that allowed the gunman to shoot at the former president.
The task force, which includes Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler and Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, visited the venue and surrounding areas to gain a firsthand look at the scene. They also planned to speak with local law enforcement officials to gather more information about what transpired on that fateful day.
One of the most poignant moments of the tour was when members of Congress stood on the roof of the AGR building, where the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired eight shots, injuring Trump, David Dutch, and Jim Copenhaver, and killing Corey Comperatore. The small size of the farm show space and the proximity of the buildings to each other were particularly striking to the task force members.
Congressman Crow, a former Army Ranger, noted the importance of securing high ground and having clear lines of sight, which he felt were lacking in the area. The task force members expressed that their visit raised more questions and highlighted the need for a thorough investigation.
Rep. Laurel Lee of Florida, a Republican co-chair of the task force, emphasized the significance of physically visiting the grounds to understand the security shortcomings that occurred that day. Rep. Kelly, who was present at the rally, questioned why Trump was allowed to go on stage when law enforcement had spotted the gunman on the roof.
The task force members admitted that they had not received all the requested documents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Secret Service, and the FBI. They stressed the importance of uncovering the truth, even if it meant a slower investigative process.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and the gunman’s parents have hired a lawyer who declined to comment when contacted by KDKA-TV. In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, five individuals, including the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office and three other officials, were placed on leave pending an investigation into the security failure.
A report filed by Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana revealed that a Butler SWAT operator played a crucial role in delaying the gunman after shots were fired. The operator shot the gunman’s gun from a distance of around 100 yards, hitting his rifle stock and causing fragments to strike his face, neck, and shoulder. This delay allowed a United States Secret Service sniper to take the fatal shot.
The investigation into the attempted assassination continues as the task force seeks to unravel the events leading up to that fateful day in July. The task force members remain committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability for the security lapses that occurred during the rally.
