House Republican leaders are demanding answers after a gunman opened fire on a rally for former President Trump in Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and injuring two others. The shooting has raised concerns about security lapses, with lawmakers calling for accountability.
House Republican leaders are expressing outrage and demanding accountability after a gunman opened fire on a rally for former President Trump in Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and injuring two others.
The shooting has raised concerns about security lapses, with lawmakers questioning how the gunman was able to get so close to a heavily secured area.
Questions Surround Trump Rally Shooting as GOP Calls for Accountability
"I think there are so many questions that need to be answered, and I don't know who is to blame," said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. "I don't know what the breakdowns are, but I clearly know there were breakdowns."
NRCC Chair Richard Hudson, R-N.C., called the shooting a "major security breakdown."
Questions Surround Trump Rally Shooting as GOP Calls for Accountability
"One of my initial reactions as I was watching this unfold on television was anger – how could this happen? How can a person with a gun get to a rooftop that overlooks the stage that close to the former president?" Hudson said.
The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby roof over the weekend, killing 65-year-old Michael Ketterer and critically injuring two others. Trump was shot in the ear before being pulled off the stage by his Secret Service detail.
Questions Surround Trump Rally Shooting as GOP Calls for Accountability
Lawmakers are questioning how Crooks was able to get onto the roof, despite reports that heavily armed police were inside the building.
"I want to hear what happened," Hudson said. "I'm no security expert, but I do have some familiarity with rifles and scopes. That was a very close distance, and the fact that rooftop was available for that shooter, I just can't understand."
Questions Surround Trump Rally Shooting as GOP Calls for Accountability
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., have called on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign. Emmer and Hudson have not gone that far, saying they want to see what details can be uncovered before making their judgment.
FBI Director Christopher Wray held briefings with both the House and Senate on Wednesday to discuss lawmakers' concerns. A source familiar with the House call said it lasted roughly 45 minutes and that lawmakers found Wray and Cheatle's answers unsatisfying.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI and Secret Service for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.
The shooting has also raised questions about the growing threat of political violence in the United States.
"This is a very dangerous time in our country," Emmer said. "We're seeing a lot of anger and a lot of hate, and it's leading to some very dangerous situations."
Hudson said the shooting should serve as a wake-up call for both parties.
"It's time for us to lower the temperature in this country," Hudson said. "We need to find a way to come together and have a civil discourse, even if we disagree on political issues."
The shooting is still under investigation, and it remains unclear what motivated Crooks to attack Trump's rally.
