Staff Reports
The House of Representatives has set up a crack team of lawmakers to investigate the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, and they’re eager to assure everyone that this isn’t just politics as usual. Led by Rep. Mike Kelly from Pennsylvania, this bipartisan task force insists their goal is to seek the truth rather than race to a conclusion. Apparently, the truth takes longer than just a 30-second sound byte for social media, which seems to have baffled some politicians who aren’t used to that kind of patience.
Last week, nine members of the Task Force ventured to the scene of the crime where Trump was addressing a crowd on July 13. They were intent on examining the very spot where a 20-year-old nut job managed to gain access to a nearby building and unleash eight rounds in what can only be described as a truly deplorable act of political violence. Tragically, one attendee lost their life, and a couple of others ended up injured. Even Trump himself was grazed by a bullet, which is about as close as anyone would want the former president to get to any kind of ‘friendly fire.’
The bipartisan House task force into the attempted assassination of former President Trump visited the site of the shooting in Butler County, Pennsylvania on Monday.@MacFarlaneNews reports on the latest in their investigation: pic.twitter.com/bunBdLbg7l
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 26, 2024
On the surface, it looks like a noble effort to stress bipartisanship—both sides joined together to send a message that violence has no place in politics. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat, seemed thrilled about this rare moment of unity, basking in the reflected glow of the unanimous 416-0 vote that created the task force. It hard to ignore the irony though; while they profess nonpartisanship, the reality of the rot inside Washington remains unaddressed. The real measure of progress will be in the specifics produced rather than the political theater they hope to project.
Not too far from this dignified investigation, a separate group of House Republicans has formed its own panel, the “J13 Forum.” This fun little party is named after the day Trump was shot, which is perhaps the worst kind of homage to the very serious issue at hand. Only some of these GOP members were left miffed at being overlooked for the official task force, so naturally, they decided to go rogue. With a lineup of witnesses that reads like a who’s who of security overlords—including former Secret Service agents and Navy SEALs—they aim to take the fight for justice into their own hands.
While the bipartisan task force with Kelly and Crow trudges along toward a final report due by mid-December, they are dishing out interim updates along the way. Meanwhile, Mills and Crane from the J13 Forum hinted at bigger plans and more hearings to come. Crane seemed skeptical of the motives of the bipartisan committee and pointed out the glaring omission of some experienced members from their ranks. It’s safe to say that the political chess game is about to get a lot messier as both teams try to outmaneuver one another and secure the narrative.
The clash of these two groups illustrates the enduring conflict within American politics: the desire to get things done while battling preconceived notions of allegiance. Crow and other members of the bipartisan task force are convinced they possess the exclusive authority to investigate this incident. Yet, whether they can avoid falling into the trap of self-serving agendas remains to be seen. The implications of this situation extend beyond just Trump; it speaks to the greater question of how political violence is perceived and addressed in America.
