Lawmakers condemn violence, call for peace after Trump rally shooting

Lawmakers are calling for peace after shots were fired at Former President Donald Trump during a political rally Saturday. The suspected gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed during the incident.

Former U.S. Attorney General and Senator Jeff Sessions released a statement Saturday evening calling for peace in response to the shooting.

“My prayers are with President Trump and his family, and the families of the rally attendees who were shot,” Sessions said in the written statement. “President Trump is a powerful leader. He never wavers. He is always out front. He is physically courageous, and he will not be intimidated from taking his case directly to the American people. You can be sure this won’t stop President Trump. Americans of every party must condemn political violence. There must be no equivocation.”

The shooting occurred just after 5 p.m. July 13 in Butler Pennsylvania. Shots rang out as Trump addressed the crowd and as of Saturday night, two, the Crooks and an attendee were dead, two other attendees were critically injured and Trump, who had been shot in the right ear, had been treated for his injuries.

The identities of the other victims have not yet been released and the Secret Service protection has been increased for Trump according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

“Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead,” Trump confirmed on Twitter. “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through my skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

Trump campaign headquarters issued a statement after the shooting to thank first responders and law enforcement for their quick actions. Later that evening, Trump tweeted his gratitude personally and expressed condolences to the families of the victim killed during the rally.

“I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured,” Trump tweeted. “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.”

The Justice Department also issued a statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland late Saturday evening.

“My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack,” Merrick declared. “We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy. The Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear [on] this investigation.”

According to Merrick federal and state agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Department’s National Security Division together with the Secret Service are working with state and local law enforcement partners on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania on the investigation. Merrick confirmed he had been briefed on the shooting and had briefed President Joe Biden.

In a joint statement with the Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and Co-Chairman Lara Trump, the candidate’s senior advisors, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita affirmed the former president is doing well.

“President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States,” advisors wrote in the statement. “As our party’s nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to ‘Make America Great Again.’”

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