Gay congressman Ritchie Torres has joined a bipartisan group of US lawmakers demanding a thorough investigation into the security lapses that allowed an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally. The incident, which took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, saw 20-year-old Thomas Crooks fire a shot that narrowly missed Trump, grazing his ear.
Security Failures Under Scrutiny
Torres, the first LGBTQ+ Afro-Latino elected to legislative office, emphasized the critical need for an inquiry into the security breakdowns. “The security failures surrounding the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate demand an investigation. The federal government must constantly learn from security failures to avoid repeating them, especially when those failures have implications for the nation,” he stated.
Biden and Obama Condemn Violence
President Joe Biden strongly condemned the shooter’s actions, stressing the importance of unity and non-violence in America. “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow this to be happening,” Biden declared. Former President Barack Obama also voiced his disapproval, advocating for civility and respect in political discourse while wishing Trump a swift recovery.
Immediate Aftermath and Public Reaction
During the rally, Trump was quickly surrounded by Secret Service agents and taken to safety, but not before urging his supporters to “Fight, fight, fight.” The incident resulted in the death of Crooks by a Secret Service sniper, with one rally attendee killed and two others seriously injured. The event has sparked widespread calls for better security measures at political events and has reignited discussions on political violence in the United States.