Spending strategy

A 'constituency of one': How Trump motivated Johnson’s spending strategy

The speaker will need the former president’s support if he wants to hold onto the gavel.

By Jordain Carney and Olivia Beavers

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) kicked off the first hearing of the bipartisan task force investigating the two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump by offering strong criticism of the Secret Service’s handling of the July 13 shooting.

“Because of failures by the Secret Service, the shooting was not prevented,” Kelly, the panel's chair, said as he opened the hearing. “There were security failures on multiple fronts.”

The task force is largely focused Thursday on hearing from state and local law enforcement about the day of the shooting and security and planning decisions leading up to the rally. The Secret Service has been at the center of Congress’ investigations with Kelly’s opening remarks setting a possible tenor for the committee toward the agency during Thursday’s hearing.