During a recent hearing held by the task force investigating the assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump, GOP Reps. Eli Crane and Cory Mills made a surprise appearance, causing frustration among Democrats on the bipartisan panel. The Democrats chose to remove themselves from the hearing room, indicating their perception of the appearance as partisan.
This unexpected turn of events marked the first public display of discontent within the task force, which had previously committed to maintaining an apolitical stance. Rep. Jason Crow, the top Democrat on the task force, expressed disappointment over the lack of prior notice regarding Crane and Mills' participation in the hearing. Crow mentioned that the Democratic members were not given sufficient time to prepare or provide their own experts for the panel.
On the other hand, GOP Rep. Mike Kelly, the committee chairman, defended the decision to invite Crane and Mills, emphasizing their combat experience as the reason behind the invitation. Kelly reassured reporters that the inclusion of Crane and Mills does not undermine the bipartisan nature of the panel.
Despite the differing reactions from both parties, Kelly maintained his belief in the bipartisan spirit of the task force. He acknowledged that individuals may hold varying opinions on the matter but affirmed his commitment to upholding the collaborative nature of the panel.
