Outspoken Fla. House members call for civility after attempted assassination of Trump
Days after the attempted assassination of Trump at a Pennsylvania rally last weekend, Reps. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., are circulating a new bipartisan letter calling for “peace and civility in our nation’s politics.”
“We have the ability to lead by example and show people we can disagree without dehumanizing each other,” they wrote in a letter obtained first by NBC News. “Considering the current political division in our nation, we understand that this may be easier said than done. There is a system of hatred and grifting that has infused itself into our politics. We see it on TV and social media daily, making this task challenging. We must find ways to find commonality with each other.”
Moskowitz and Luna are asking fellow House members to sign the letter. Both have gained reputations for vocalizing hyper-partisan rhetoric in recent media appearances. Luna recently led the charge to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress.
Moskowitz drew scrutiny in March for posting what he later said was an “inappropriate” side-by-side picture of actress Sydney Sweeney’s chest and President Joe Biden making a surprised face during his State of the Union address. Moskowitz also came under fire in May for a post referring to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s controversial decision to shoot and kill her dog, in which he invoked an offensive stereotype about Asians (Moskowitz ultimately took down both posts).
Department of Homeland Security to investigate Secret Service security operation
The security decisions taken by the Secret Service before and during Trump's rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday will come under intense scrutiny in a new investigation announced by the Department of Homeland Security.
The department's inspector general will "Evaluate the United States Secret Service’s (Secret Service) process for securing former President Trump’s July 13, 2024 campaign event," a short statement on its website said today.
Trump's ear was clipped by a bullet when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire on the event, which was attended by thousands of the former president's supporters. One person was killed and two others were injured.
President Joe Biden has ordered an independent review of security at the rally.
U.S. officials reveal possible Iranian plot to assassinate Trump
In the weeks leading up to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania Saturday, there was already increased Secret Service security around the former president after U.S. officials obtained intelligence that there may be an Iranian plot against him.
The National Security Council emphasized there was no connection between the alleged threat and the Saturday shooting. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk reports for TODAY.
Video emerges showing law enforcement officers stopped by fence after shooting
Video verified by NBC News shows the moment Secret Service and state police officers were stopped from reaching the building from where shooter Thomas Crooks had just shot former President Donald Trump by a metal fence.
The video, posted to X, shows officers stood waiting while a police vehicle rammed the fence to make an opening. The SUV only managed to create a hole big enough for officers to then crawl through.