Blackburn to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Durbin: Call Secret Service Director, DHS Secretary, FBI Director to Testify on Assassination Attempt on President Trump

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and all of their Senate Judiciary Committee Republican colleagues in sending a letter requesting Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) hold a hearing on the circumstances that led to the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump and the murder and injury of other attendees at a peaceful political event on Saturday, July 13.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction and oversight authority over the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans wrote,"In light of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump and the murder and injury of other attendees at a peaceful political event, we urgently request that you hold a hearing into the circumstances that led to this tragedy. We further request that you invite Director Kimberly Cheatle of the United States Secret Service, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security, and Director Christopher Wray of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as witnesses. There is much unknown about this attempted assassination, but its occurrence raises alarming questions and concerns. We are grateful for the bravery and selflessness of the Secret Service agents and other law enforcement officers on the scene, but we must get to the bottom of how the would-be assassin was able to access a nearby rooftop with a rifle and a line of sight to President Trump. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has an obligation to exercise its jurisdiction and oversight authority over the United States Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to shed light on this grave matter. The Committee must fulfill its responsibility to investigate this thoroughly and publicly to understand how this happened and how it can be prevented in the future. The sanctity of our elections, the safety of our candidates, and the peaceful transition of power in our Republic demand nothing less."

The Senators continued, "Our hearts are broken, and our prayers are with those murdered and injured by this senseless violence. Chair Durbin, we hope to work with you to investigate this matter publicly, and to bring answers and confidence in our system to the American people."

• This letter was also signed by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Miss.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Kennedy (R-La.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Read the full letter here.