The Secret Service told members of the bipartisan task force investigating the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Trump that it made adjustments to its security efforts that may have helped foil a potential second attempt on Trump’s life.
Rep. Jason Crow (Colo.), the top Democrat on the bipartisan task force, told Politico:
“It’s our understanding that after July 13 that President Biden ordered the Secret Service to provide the same level of security to both Vice President [Kamala] Harris and to former President Trump that would be a presidential level security — commensurate with what the president would receive — and that that security is being provided.”
Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are pointing fingers.
Republicans are blaming Democratic rhetoric for the two assassination attempts against Trump. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was badly wounded in a shooting by a left-wing gunman in 2017, said:
“There is very specific rhetoric we can now point to that we know is triggering some of these people who are unhinged, who take it the wrong way, and want to carry out what is being sent to them by Democrats talking about this.”
Democrats are furious over the allegations, and blame Trump for turning up the temperature.
“If they want to go down that road, then you could blame Trump – or you could blame Republicans – for a lot of the bad things that have happened in this country based on what they’ve said.” – Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.)
There are growing concerns on Capitol Hill that political violence will spread.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) says she’s received specific threats to her safety.
“It doesn’t feel safe right now to be in politics, and I really want to emphasize that we’re at a point in American history where you have people afraid to come to work,” Luna said in an interview with host Chris Cuomo.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers in the House are preparing a Constitutional amendment that would allow for members to be replaced quickly in the case of a mass-casualty event.
“We’ve seen a 300 percent increase in threats against members over the last seven years, according to the Capitol Police,” Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) told The Washington Post. “In an environment where we have seen a growing tendency toward political violence, imagine — horrifically — a baseball practice where someone has bad intentions and better aim. You can literally flip a majority for three to four months. Which I think is a frightening incentive for political violence.”
Perspectives:
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The Free Press: Stop blaming political violence on political rhetoric.
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