"The assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump on July 13th is the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades," said U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle as she testified on the attempted assassination of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. She testified before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. Members from both parties, including the committee chair and ranking member, called for her to resign. During the hearing she answered questions on events leading up to the rally and directly following. She also addressed concerns about the security perimeter, whether security requests for former President Trump had been granted amid increased international and domestic threats, and the timeline for when the shooter was identified as a suspicious subject and later threat.
U.S. Space Command Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Jeff Kruse joined a panel discussion on space operations and national security during the Aspen Security forum in Colorado. Topics included threats from China and Russia, space capabilities and military readiness, and technology innovation.
Colonel Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, testifies on the attempted assassination of former Pres. Trump at a campaign rally during a public hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee.
"I believe we're inside the 10-yard line and driving toward the goal line in getting an agreement that would produce a ceasefire, get the hostages home, and put us on a better track to trying to build lasting peace and stability," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken when asked about ceasefire negotiations in the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza during a conversation at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. When asked about stopping Iran's nuclear ambitions, the secretary said though Iran has not developed a nuclear weapon, they are "probably one or two weeks away" from producing fissile material for a nuclear weapon. Other topics addressed included the war in Ukraine, support for Ukraine's potential NATO membership, challenges from China, and freeing U.S. hostages wrongfully detained abroad, such as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkocich who was recently sentenced to 16-years in a Russian prison.
The Senate returns from its state work period to vote on the confirmation of Federal Labor Relations Authority Republican member Colleen Duffy Kiko for another five-year term.
"The U.S. government is going to bring both of them home. When we go into negotiations with the Russians, we are intent on something that brings both people home," said Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens when asked about negotiations with Russia over the release of detained Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan. The special envoy joined NBC News' Courtney Kube for a conversation on the hostage negotiation process at the Aspen Institute's annual security forum in Colorado. Mr. Carstens provided insight into the negotiation process and the importance of diplomacy.
"Donald Trump wants to take us backwards" Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters at her first campaign event since becoming the Democratic front runner for the party's presidential nomination. The vice president categorized her campaign as a grassroots effort to rebuild the middle class. She contrasted her experience as prosecutor with former President Donald Trump's criminal convictions and indictments. Her remarks came on the heels of record fundraising with her campaign raking in more than $81 million within a span of 24 hours. The campaign event took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is considered a battleground state for the 2024 presidential election cycle.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC spoke to reporters following the organization's endorsement of Vice President Harris's 2024 presidential campaign, detailing their support for her candidacy.
"We are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris," proclaimed Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) during a press conference from the Capitol Hill headquarters of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The Senate leader also spoke on President Biden's decision to not seek reelection, saying "we love him, we truly do." Joining Sen. Schumer was House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who endorsed Vice President Harris for president, saying "I'm proud to strongly endorse Kamala Harris to be the 47th President of the United States of America."
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) spoke on the floor about the attempted assassination of former President Trump. He also talked about President Biden's decision to not run for reelection.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) discussed the security failures of the Secret Service that led to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. She also talks about the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle following her testimony before the House Oversight Committee.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power highlighted the agency's newly updated Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) Policy during an event co-hosted by USAID and the Wilson Center in Washington, DC. Administrator Power pointed out several tenets of the policy, which included technology implementation and transparency, preventing corruption in democracy, and supporting and building up institutions that promote democracy. Following the administrator's remarks was a conversation with policy advocates examining the policy more in depth.
"It has been, and it is still our belief, that in a very tense Middle East, the single event that could happen right now to be most influential on releasing pressure across all fronts in the region, is bring home the hostages," said one father of an American hostage being held by Hamas in Gaza. He was joined by other family representatives of Americans being held hostage at a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The family members called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a deal to release the hostages. The prime minister was slated to address a joint meeting of Congress the following day.
Cameron Fowler, the CEO of Early Warning Services - the company that operates the peer-to-peer payment network Zelle - joined banking executives from JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America to testify on fraud protections within the banking industry during a public hearing before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee. The hearing primarily focused on scams and fraud perpetrated through the Zelle network and how best to protect consumers. Several topics were addressed, including the need for consumer education and financial literacy, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in committing fraud, reimbursement for victims of financial scams, and actions taken at banks to protect consumers.
Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) discussed the Israel-Hamas war and why they're opposed to having Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak to a Joint Meeting of Congress. Senator Sanders referred to the prime minister as a "war criminal" and called the invitation to speak "a disgrace."
Republican lawmakers and policy advocates talked about Project 2025, the 2024 presidential campaign, defense policy, foreign policy, immigration and border security during the Heritage Foundation's policy symposium in Milwaukee where the Republican National Convention is happening.
Colonel Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Patrick Yoes, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, testified on the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania before the House Homeland Security Committee. They outlined the role of local law enforcement and U.S. Secret Service at the rally, discussed communication challenges, and answered questions on the timeline of security failures that day. In addition, committee members shared photos and video on the roof of the AGR building where the sniper was located, as members visited the site prior the hearing.
Colonel Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Patrick Yoes, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, testified on the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler before the House Homeland Security Committee. They outlined the role of local law enforcement and U.S. Secret Service at the rally, communication challenges, and answered questions on the timeline of security failures that day. In addition, committee members shared photos and video on the roof of the AGR building where the gunman was located, as members visited the site prior the hearing.
Colonel Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Patrick Yoes, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, testified on the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler before the House Homeland Security Committee. They outlined the role of local law enforcement and U.S. Secret Service at the rally, communication challenges, and answered questions on the timeline of security failures that day. In addition, committee members shared photos and video on the roof of the AGR building where the gunman was located, as members visited the site prior the hearing.
