Rogue task force sidesteps Johnson with forum on Trump assassination attempt

House Republicans leading an independent investigation into the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump are set to hold their first field hearing next week, on the same day the official bipartisan task force will have a press conference at the shooting site. 

The parallel investigation, led by Reps. Cory Mills (R-FL) and Eli Crane (R-AZ), will hold a “forum” on Monday, according to an advisory. The event will be held at the Heritage Foundation headquarters in Washington, D.C., and include three witnesses: Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service special agent; Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL officer; and Ben Shaffer, a Washington regional SWAT operator.

The hearing comes as the bipartisan task force assigned to investigate the assassination attempt is expected to travel to Butler, Pennsylvania, on the same day to visit the shooting site and hold a press conference. The task force leaders, Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Jason Crow (D-CO), will meet with local officials to discuss the shooting. 

The panel, composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats, was established by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) shortly after the assassination attempt on July 13, with the group given subpoena power to investigate the federal agencies that oversaw the event — a power the independent task force lacks.

Mills expressed his dissatisfaction after he was not selected to sit on the bipartisan panel, announcing he would instead lead a parallel investigation with Crane into the matter. Other Republicans have since joined that investigation, including Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Chip Roy (R-TX), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL). 

“I wish the members of Speaker Johnson’s Task Force well, and think it’s time for a parallel independent investigation with subject matter experts (SME) and the whistleblowers who’ve already come forward that myself and Rep. Eli Crane and Benny Johnson have spoken with,” Mills said in a statement last month. “I will be speaking with other members, and although I won’t have subpoena powers, I will personally fund whatever is required for additional staff to further investigate and expose the truth.”

The security failures at the rally have prompted widespread scrutiny of the Secret Service from lawmakers of both parties. Agency Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after a contentious hearing before the House Oversight Committee.

The task force investigation is expected to conclude and produce a final report by Dec. 13, although lawmakers will release interim reports along the way, according to Johnson. It’s not clear when the independent group plans to conclude its work or how often it will release its findings.