VIDEO: Peters Convenes Hearing to Examine the Assassination Attempt on Former President Donald Trump ➞

WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing to examine the security failures that led to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The hearing featured testimony from U.S. Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation officials on the attempted assassination of the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13^th, an attack that took the life of Corey Comperatore and injured two other attendees - David Dutch and James Copenhaver. Witnesses outlined the security procedures that were in place at the event, provided new information about the security failures that contributed to the attack and the shooter's actions in the lead up to and on the day of the attack, and highlighted what protocols must change to ensure an attack like this can never happen again. This hearing, which is part of Peters' bipartisan investigation into security and planning failures in advance of the assassination attempt, revealed new details about these failures and resulted in calls for increased transparency to the American people about what went wrong.

"Let me be clear - this was an attack on our democracy. Americans should be able to attend a political rally and express their political beliefs without fear of violence. And political candidates for our nation's highest office should be confident that their safety will never be compromised for their service. Although we are still learning about the shooter's motive, this attack was a shocking reminder that the threat of political violence is alive and well in our country," said Senator Peters. "By all accounts, this was an inexcusable security and planning failure - and we need to get all of the facts about what happened that day and how we can ensure an attack like this is never allowed to happen again."

To watch video of Senator Peters' opening remarks, clickhere.For text of Peters' opening remarks as prepared, clickhere.

To watch video of Senator Peters' questions, clickhere.

During the hearing, Peters and the witnesses discussed reforms that are needed to strengthen security protocols within the U.S. Secret Service. They also reviewed critical information regarding what went wrong that afternoon and discussed how the attack unfolded.

Ronald L. Rowe, Jr, Acting Director of the U.S. Secret Service, discussed the U.S. Secret Service's planning efforts before the attack and the communications protocols that were used as the event unfolded. Paul Abbate, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, discussed what the FBI has learned to date about the shooter's planning and activities.

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