Federal law enforcement officials will provide an all-senators unclassified briefing on Wednesday about the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Briefers will conduct a senator-only conference call in the afternoon that will include officials from the FBI, Department of Justice, and Secret Service, according to the office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who requested the briefing.
The call will come as lawmakers are on recess for the week and away from Washington, D.C., in addition to mounting frustration over lingering questions about apparent security failures that nearly led to Trump’s death.
Finger-pointing has encapsulated the post-shooting investigation between Secret Service and local law enforcement, which assisted in the security of Saturday’s campaign rally where a gunman perched on an adjacent rooftop clipped Trump in the ear before being killed by Secret Service countersnipers. Local officers were alerted by rallygoers of the alleged shooter’s rooftop position prior to him firing on the GOP presidential nominee, according to eyewitness accounts and footage from the rally.
Meanwhile, House Republicans say the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, is stonewalling its Oversight Committee’s efforts to receive information. The Secret Service was set to brief panel members on Tuesday but failed to do so after intervention from the Department of Homeland Security, according to the committee.
“The Department of Homeland Security took over communications with the Committee and has since refused to confirm a briefing time,” an Oversight Committee spokesperson said. “The Oversight Committee has a long record of bipartisan oversight of the Secret Service and the unprofessionalism we are witnessing from current DHS leadership is unacceptable.”
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Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) requested the briefing and will now subpoena Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to compel her appearance for a separate public hearing slated for next week.
The Secret Service could brief the House Homeland Security Committee as soon as Tuesday, a source familiar with the plans told the Washington Examiner.
Cami Mondeaux and Anna Giaritelli contributed to this report.
