Lawmakers in Congress are intensifying their efforts to get to the bottom of the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. As officials from Western Pennsylvania come forward, criticizing the Secret Service's handling of the incident, lawmakers are demanding answers and accountability. A series of investigations and testimonies are now scheduled to take place on Capitol Hill next week.

One of the newest probes announced by House Speaker Mike Johnson is a bipartisan task force, set to launch on Monday. This task force, equipped with subpoena power, aims to work efficiently to identify the lapses that led to the shooting incident. Alongside the congressional investigations, the FBI is conducting its own inquiry into the motives of the gunman, while President Biden has ordered an independent review of the events.

There seems to be some overlap among these investigations, with several individual senators and members of the House conducting their own inquiries. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has already subpoenaed Kimberly Cheatle, head of the Secret Service, who is scheduled to testify on Monday. Simultaneously, the GOP-led House Homeland Security panel expects to hear testimonies from Cheatle and the heads of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI. Testimonies from law enforcement officials with the Pennsylvania State Police and Butler County have also been requested by the panel's chairman for homeland security, Mark Green.

While Congress focuses on the security lapses, local officials are expected to defend their officers' actions and shed light on potential lapses in the Secret Service's planning. Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe and Butler Township police officials are among those who have been asked to testify. Sheriff Slupe highlighted the dedication of his deputies, who went above and beyond their duties to assist witnesses and help clear nearby buildings. He also mentioned that an officer from Butler Township attempted to confront the shooter but had to retreat when the shooter aimed at him. Local officials believe that this confrontation disrupted the shooter's plans.

The Secret Service finds itself under scrutiny and facing a crisis. During last night's Republican National Convention, Cheatle was confronted by several U.S. senators, who accused her of stonewalling and demanded answers on behalf of Donald Trump. Cheatle's upcoming testimony on Monday carries high stakes for her and the agency. Some members of Congress, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have already called for Cheatle's resignation following a series of closed-door briefings that left them unsatisfied.

As the investigations continue, the focus remains on uncovering the security lapses surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The testimonies and findings from these investigations will be crucial in determining accountability and ensuring that proper security measures are in place to prevent such incidents in the future.