Senator Rick Scott is calling for an “immediate” hearing by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Secret Service on the investigation into the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. It happened at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
In a statement, Florida’s junior Republican Senator said the committee “has an oversight responsibility and an obligation to the American people to demand answers from DHS and the U.S. Secret Service on how this happened and what steps are being taken to investigate this assassination attempt and make sure it never happens again.”
Scott is asking for the hearing before August 1.
Trump was injured in the assassination attempt when a gunman shot at him during a rally. One person at the event was killed and two others wounded. Secret Service agents killed the shooter, now identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Republican Congressman Cory Mills told CNN the shooting was a “massive security breach.”
. @CoryMillsFL has coordinated protective details for then VP Biden, Condoleezza Rice and First Lady Laura Bush,
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) July 14, 2024
He tells @kasie that the assassination attempt on Trump amounted to "a massive security breach." pic.twitter.com/BFRgouVMRj
Mills, along with other Central Florida lawmakers across the aisle, are condemning the assassination attempt and political violence.
“This is not a partisan issue,” said Mills. “We need to actually hit the cooldown button right now and understand that America is better than this.”
On X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, his Democratic colleagues echoed that sentiment. “In our democracy, violence is never the answer,” said Democratic Congressman Darren Soto.”
We wish Fmr President Trump a quick recovery. We also thank law enforcement for their rapid response.
— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) July 13, 2024
We will be monitoring the situation over the next few days as more information comes to light.
In our democracy, violence is never the answer.
Congressman Maxwell Frost said “political violence is disgusting and should be fiercely condemned.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he and First Lady Casey DeSantis are “praying for Donald Trump and his family.”
Trump said he still plans to attend and speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which kicks off Monday. His campaign said security is being increased, which was already a high security event.
