Florida Republican promises “parallel, independent investigation” into Trump assassinations

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) speaks to reporters after a closed meeting of the House Republican Conference on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. The weekly press conference was also attended by the families of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7.

Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida vowed Monday to fund a “parallel independent investigation” into the attempted assassination of former President Trump and expressed disappointment that he was not selected for the task force investigating the rally shooting.

Speaker Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) earlier on Monday announced the 13 members of the bipartisan task force investigating the assassination attempt in which a 20-year-old gunman wounded Trump, killed a rally attendee and seriously injured two others.

“This is very unfortunate, but not surprising to anyone who knows how Washington works. I am not a politician, not a leader, and not a yes-man,” Mills said in a statement Monday.

Mills, an Army veteran who founded defense and private security firms, cited an investigation into the case he conducted with Republican Rep. Eli Crane (Arizona), a former Navy SEAL sniper, and conservative media star Benny Johnson.

“I wish the members of Speaker Johnson’s task force well and think it is time for a parallel independent investigation with subject matter experts (SME) and the whistleblowers who have already come forward and with whom I and Representatives Eli Crane and Benny Johnson have spoken,” Mills said. “I will speak with other members and while I do not have subpoena power, I will personally fund whatever additional personnel are needed to continue the investigation and get to the truth.”

In a post on social media site X last week after visiting the rally site with Benny Johnson and Crane, Mills said the group conducted a “site inspection” and held conversations with rally attendees as well as “a whistleblower who we will protect.”

Crane also expressed his disappointment at not being appointed to the task force by reposting a message from Benny Johnson on X in which he said it was “complete nonsense” that Mills and Crane were not selected for the panel.

Spokesman Johnson said last week that he wanted to recruit members for the panel who “have expertise in the relevant areas.”

The task force will be chaired by Republican Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler, Pennsylvania, who was present at the rally during the shooting. The ranking member will be Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger and Bronze Star recipient who sits on the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Other members on the Republican side include Rep. Mark Green (Tennessee), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee; Rep. David Joyce (Ohio), a former prosecutor and chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee; Rep. Michael Waltz (Florida), a retired Army Special Forces soldier; and Rep. Clay Higgins (Louisiana), a former police officer.

“We have complete confidence in this bipartisan group of trusted, highly qualified and capable members of Congress to quickly uncover the facts, ensure accountability and help ensure that such failures are never repeated,” Johnson and Jeffries said in a joint statement.