July 19, 2024

Friends,   

I hope you and your family are well! I wanted to provide you with a few updates regarding what’s going on –

Trump Assassination Attempt

On July 13, 2024, Matthew Thomas Crooks went atop an unsecured perch 150+/- yards from President Donald Trump and attempted to assassinate him. President Trump, by the grace of God, received only minor injuries. Though, an innocent American was killed and others injured as Crooks shot at President Trump.

As details of the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump are unfolding, we will witness federal agencies, including the United States Secret Service, go into CYA mode and try to pin blame elsewhere. We cannot rely just on Congressional Oversight hearings or even Agency Inspector Generals to get the answers that Congress and the American people deserve about the failures to protect President Trump adequately.

The first question Americans deserve an answer to is how a rooftop with line-of-sight to the stage and podium was left un-patrolled or un-covered by kinetic surveillance. I have been to countless political events with Presidents or candidates, and protocol is to ensure ALL windows, balconies, parking garages, and roofs with line of sight to the stage are covered and cleared. Why was this area of opportunity not covered?

There will be statements like ‘resource inadequacy’ or ‘manpower shortages.’ That is when you coordinate with local and state Law Enforcement to cover these areas. I refuse to accept these types of blame-shifting responses from the Secret Service. An American died, and others were injured yesterday because you allowed a shooter to access an unsecured rooftop perch a mere 140+/- yards from the stage. The bottom line is that the security perimeter was inadequate, as security coverage should be beyond 500 yards or more.

Sunday, I spoke directly to Speaker Johnson, Chairman Green, and my House Republican colleagues on the immediate need for an Independent Commission to be appointed by both House and Senate Leadership to give a non-partisan examination into the how and why aspects of this security posture.

This would be like the 9/11 Commission that was appointed after the attack on the World Trade Center. Additionally, the Independent Commission will address the failures of both Federal and State Law Enforcement apparatuses at this event that, absent a miracle from God, could have resulted in a much more tragic outcome.

The American people deserve answers.

Due to my work to bring about an Independent Commission, Speaker Johnson has announced he will form a taskforce to investigate the Trump assassination attempt.

I am watching closely to see what this taskforce will look like and I expect answers for the American people.

While it's important to find out the how and why this happened, this taskforce must also determine how to ensure this type of situation never happens again.

While I am searching for solutions that Americans demand, Democrats are spending time talking down to Americans about "lowering the violent rhetoric" in politics. I don't want to hear it from the left! It's the radical liberals who are pushing messages of violence!

There is an old adage that I believe goes back to President Truman: “The Buck Stops Here.”

"The President--whoever he is--has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job” is how President Truman defined it.

It also has taken on the meaning of taking responsibility for your actions or inactions.

The actions of the Advance Team and the Detail charged with protecting a former President of the United States and the presumed Republican Nominee for the highest office in the United States were an abysmal failure on July 13th at a campaign Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. I believe the Director of the United States Secret Service needs to understand that the Buck stops with her.

Director Kimberly Cheadle of the United States Secret Service needs to resign!

Director Cheatle was right about one thing. The sloped roof was a safety concern.

It was an unprotected perch that gave a clear line of sight for a shooter to attempt to kill the President Donald J. Trump.

Even if it’s to unsafe to place a sniper team on that sloped roof, why rooftop access not secured so that any would be assassin could not climb up?

This is your failure, Director Cheatle. You must resign!

The innocent bystander killed during the assassination attempt on President Trump has been identified as Corey Comperatore. Corey was a first responder and was used to running towards danger. As Corey’s daughter explained in a moving tribute, he died like he lived—a hero.

“The media will not tell you that he died a real-life super hero. They are not going to tell you how quickly he threw my mom and I to the ground. They are not going to tell you that he shielded my body from the bullet that came at us. He loved his family. He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us.”

Standing Up For the Pro-Life Community

I joined 87 of my House Republican colleagues to find out why Fort Liberty is teaching Army soldiers that pro-life organizations are terrorists.

It’s beyond unacceptable that your local pregnancy center that encourages pregnant women to carry their baby to full-term and provides medical care, clothes, and formula is equated with Hamas terrorists that murder, rape, and unleash carnage on innocent people.

Due to my oversight letter, the Secretary of the Army confirmed that for at least 7 years training material at Fort Liberty has included teaching that pro-life organizations are terrorist organizations like Hamas.

Secretary Wormuth assured me these materials will not be used again and are against Army policy.

I’m proud to stand up to protect the pro-life community!

Trump Vindicated

On Monday, President Trump was vindicated as a federal judge dismissed Jack Smith’s case alleging Trump mishandled sensitive documents.

The dismissal found that Jack Smith was unconstitutionally appointed and that the funding for his case was unlawful.

Biden’s weaponization of government against Trump is unraveling!

Protecting the Right to Vote

Recently, I joined 61 of my colleagues to protect your right to vote.

We are seeking answers from Attorney General Garland about how many illegal aliens are registering to vote and being prosecuted for voting illegally.

Biden’s Border Crisis means illegals pouring across our southern border. We know they are registering in some states.

We must stop this election interference!

Stop DEI

I joined 9 of my colleagues to exercise oversight on the Department of Veterans Affairs for the woke Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies like gender-affirming care.

We need to root out DEI from all Federal agencies, as well as make sure not one tax dollar funds it.

Standing Up for Taxpayers

I’m proud to be one of 38 Members of the House to earn the Taxpayers’ Friend Award for voting my stellar voting record to cut spending and shrink Government.

It’s an honor to have earned an A rating from the National Taxpayers Union.

Legislative Action

I cosponsored H.R. 9034, Rep. Lauren Boebert’s bill to slash the federal funding of the Director of the Secret Service’s salary after the horrifying events of this weekend.

I cosponsored H.R. 8985, Rep. Andrew Ogles’ bill which stops forced abortions in surrogacy contracts.  

It is an honor to serve the Third District of South Carolina. Should you or your family need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact my office directly.