Payam Javan: On Tuesday, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the wake of an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump. Cheatle, who had been in the role since August 2022, faced mounting pressure and investigations into security lapses that allowed the shooter to get dangerously close to Trump during an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

In response to the shooting, which occurred on July 13 and resulted in one death and two injuries, the House has established a task force to investigate the incident. The task force, announced by Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, will be comprised of seven Republicans and six Democrats, with the authority to issue subpoenas. Its goal is to uncover the facts behind the security failures and ensure such incidents do not recur.

The House Oversight Committee has already begun its inquiry, with Cheatle providing testimony on July 22. While Cheatle was unable to disclose all details about how the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, evaded detection, she confirmed that the gunman had been identified as a threat before the shooting. The investigation continues as lawmakers seek to address the security breakdowns that led to the attack.