In response to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have established a bipartisan task force comprising seven Republican and six Democratic lawmakers. The task force aims to uncover the truth behind the shooting incident that occurred during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, resulting in the death of one person and critical injuries to two others.

Chaired by Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), who represents Butler County and has ties to local law enforcement, the task force includes a diverse group of lawmakers with relevant backgrounds and experience. Republican representatives Mark Green (Tenn.), David Joyce (Ohio), Laurel Lee (Fla.), Michael Waltz (Fla.), Clay Higgins (La.), and Pat Fallon (Tex.) will be joined by Democrats Rep. Jason Crow (Colo.), Lou Correa (Calif.), Madeleine Dean (Pa.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Glenn Ivey (Md.), and Jared Moskowitz (Fla.). Together, they will seek accountability and answers regarding the security and communications breakdowns that allowed the assailant to open fire from a rooftop just outside the rally's security perimeter.

In a joint statement, Johnson and Jeffries expressed confidence in the bipartisan task force's ability to swiftly investigate the incident, ensure accountability, and prevent similar failures in the future. The task force will possess subpoena authority and will assume control over all House committee investigations related to the assassination attempt.

Given the political polarization in Congress, cooperation on such matters has been rare. However, lawmakers have demonstrated a serious and cooperative approach toward investigating the attempted assassination of Trump. This stands in contrast to the limited participation of Republicans in the Democratic-led select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The task force's primary objectives include understanding the security and communication failures that facilitated the shooter's actions, holding those responsible accountable, and preventing future Secret Service failures. The last shooting incident involving a U.S. leader under Secret Service protection occurred in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan was targeted.

On Tuesday, Senate lawmakers are scheduled to hold a hearing with acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate to delve into the matter further. In the days following the shooting, lawmakers expressed frustration with the lack of detailed information provided by the Secret Service. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her post following a contentious appearance before the House Oversight Committee, while FBI Director Christopher A. Wray provided a more detailed account of the incident, clarifying that Trump was wounded by either a bullet or a bullet fragment.

The task force recognizes the urgency of collecting information from multiple sources to construct a comprehensive account of the events. During a visit to the shooting site, Representative Ivey identified local law enforcement officials and individuals on the ground who were willing to provide valuable insight.

Moving forward, it is critical for the task force to establish an independent timeline and compare it against the official protection plan devised by the Secret Service for the rally. This will shed light on any flaws in the plan or lapses in the execution of protective measures.

Meanwhile, revelations have emerged indicating that law enforcement may have been aware of the shooter prior to the incident, placing the Secret Service under scrutiny for what is being described as a significant security failure.

As the task force begins its investigation, Trump has indicated his intention to continue holding large outdoor rallies despite Secret Service officials advising against them as a precautionary measure.

The FBI has identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who has since died. Investigations have shown that Crooks had searched for information about both Trump and President Biden and had saved photos of them on his phone.

The victim killed at the rally has been identified as Corey Comperatore, a married father of two who heroically tried to protect his family. The two critically injured attendees are David Dutch and James Copenhaver.

The formation of this bipartisan task force demonstrates a commitment to seek the truth behind the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, holding accountable those responsible, and ensuring that the Secret Service learns from this incident to prevent any future security failures.