Republicans investigate attempted assassination of Donald Trump and demand Secret Service hearing after “absolute security failure”

Several congressional committees have begun investigating the “security failures” that led to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

The fact that a gunman came so close to taking Trump’s life is a shocking security failure, politicians say.

Former Navy SEAL Ryank Zinke (R-Mont.) says it was an “absolute security failure” that the shooter got onto a “nearby rooftop” to target Trump. He has experience securing battle zones and providing security at presidential events.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) told DailyMail.com in a statement that he plans to hold a hearing with Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to get to the bottom of the failures.

The House Homeland Security Committee also released a statement expressing its desire to hold a hearing with the Secret Service.

The committee’s messages suggest that Congress may be taking only the first step in a flood of action related to the attempted assassination of the former president.

“There are many questions and the American people want answers,” said Comer. “I have already asked the Secret Service for a briefing and I am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear at a hearing.”

“The Supervisory Committee will send a formal invitation shortly.”

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The lawmaker’s oversight came just hours after at least one gunman attempted to shoot former President Donald Trump during his campaign in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night.

Trump said he was shot in the right ear during the gruesome attempt and knew something was wrong when he heard a “hissing” sound.

The former president said in a statement from the hospital just hours after the horrific scene unfolded that he immediately felt the bullet “pierce my skin.”

The 78-year-old was dragged off the stage with a blood-soaked face by the Secret Service, where they sprayed him in the face and shouted “fight, fight, fight” after shots were fired in front of thousands of MAGA fans.

“THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS TODAY,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X on Saturday evening.

“The American people have a right to know the truth,” he continued.

“We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other relevant officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees as soon as possible,” Johnson said.

Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres (DN.Y.) also released a statement on Saturday calling for an investigation.

“The security deficiencies surrounding the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate require an investigation,” he wrote.

“The federal government must continually learn from security failures to avoid a repeat – especially when those failures have national implications.”

Zinke described the vulnerability in more detail in a post on X.

“I cannot think of a single case where a survey point so close would have been accessible and not already occupied by security forces.”

“There will be a thorough investigation,” Zinke continued. “The American people and our leadership deserve better.”