WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the failed assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, in which he demands, in part, the security plan to secure the perimeter of the event site, including areas such as the building from which the shooter attempted the assassination on President Trump, communications between or among personnel at the Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office of the President related to any potential increase or addition of protective resources to President Trump’s security detail; and the briefing materials used by Secretary Mayorkas and U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to brief President Joe Biden about the attempted assassination of President Trump.
 
In the letter, the Chairman writes, “Yesterday evening, a gunman attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump at his presidential campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounding him in the ear. The Committee is grateful for the swift response of Secret Service agents to protect President Trump from further harm and quickly neutralize the shooter, though tragically one rally attendee was killed, and two others have been critically injured.
 
The Chairman continues, “The seriousness of this security failure and chilling moment in our nation’s history cannot be understated. No assassination attempt has come so close to taking the life of a president or presidential candidate since President Reagan was shot in 1981. Had the bullet’s trajectory been slightly different, the assassination attempt on President Trump might have succeeded. As the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) investigates, the Committee on Homeland Security (Committee) is dedicated to conducting rigorous oversight to ensure that the American people receive answers and presidential candidates receive proper and adequate protection.
 
The Chairman concludes, “According to the USSS, the shooter “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.” This raises serious concerns regarding how a shooter was able to access a rooftop within range and direct line of sight of where President Trump was speaking. Additionally, some reporting, suggests that the Department of Homeland Security (Department) “rebuffed” multiple requests from President Trump’s security detail to increase protective resources in the weeks preceding this event.”
 
Read the full letter here.
 
Background:
 
Since the attempted assassination of former President Trump, the Committee has been in close contact with department officials and continues to seek answers to the many questions the American people deserve to know. Chairman Green will hold a phone call with Director Cheatle later today, and will continue to be in close contact with USSS and DHS to ensure the safety of our political leaders.