PA House GOP Wants to See Governor’s Mansion Security Review
Pennsylvania House Republicans sent a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro and State Police Col. Christopher Parish asking that they share the results of a third-party investigation into the circumstances that led to the arson attack at the governor’s mansion on Passover.
On April 13, Harrisburg resident Cody Balmer allegedly used Molotov cocktails to set the mansion ablaze in the early morning as the governor and his family slept. The Shapiros were unharmed. Officials are concerned about how Balmer eluded state police guarding the mansion, hence the investigation.
Shapiro’s first-person account of what happened in The New York Times said, “I woke up to yelling in the hallway. A few seconds later, there was a bang on the door. It was just after 2 a.m., and a state trooper in the hallway of our private living quarters at the governor’s residence said there was a fire in the building. We needed to evacuate immediately. My wife, Lori, and I ran to the bedrooms where our kids and two dogs were sleeping.
“We got them up quickly and followed the trooper down a back stairwell to the driveway. At that point, standing in the cold, damp air, knowing that all the kids were accounted for, we began to wonder what had happened.”
Balmer, 38, remains in custody, charged with arson and attempted murder, among other charges. Police have released statements by Balmer indicating he was motivated in part by anger over Shapiro’s support of Israel.
A preliminary hearing was delayed until May 28.
“While we applaud the effort to have a highly qualified third party provide a full-picture review of how this attack occurred, we are troubled that only the Pennsylvania State Police and the Governor’s Office will receive a detailed written report of former state Police Commissioner Miller’s findings. As such, we are requesting Miller’s report be provided in full, unredacted format to the legislative leaders and appropriate oversight committees,” the letter said.
The letter was signed by Republican House Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford); Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware), Republican chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee; Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), Republican chair of the House Appropriations Committee; and Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Questions continue to be raised about how Balmer, who was out on bail after attacking his estranged wife and stomping on his 10-year-old son’s broken leg and who has a history of mental problems, was able to make it past the governor’s security.
“Many of Pennsylvania’s elected representatives and senators have serious and legitimate concerns about how this incident occurred at a protected facility like the Governor’s Residence.”
“An attack on the Governor’s Residence—a facility akin to Pennsylvania’s White House—and extension the governor and his family, is an attack on all Pennsylvanians. As such, the highest degree of transparency is required in this situation and state elected officials have a significant interest in this important information in the performance of their public roles,” House Republicans wrote.
“This is especially the case should additional funding or legislation be needed to ensure the safety and security of elected officials, public facilities, and other public spaces under control and responsibility of the Commonwealth.”
Manuel Bonder, a spokesman for Shapiro, said, “As was announced last week, PSP is working with a risk mitigation and security expert to evaluate the residence and property, its monitoring systems, trooper assignments, and response protocols to determine security gaps and make improvements to ensure the safety of state government officials, the First Family, and the residence moving forward.
“A detailed written report of the findings will be provided to the PSP and the Governor’s Office. PSP will not release information that could compromise the investigation or the safety of the Governor, First Family, or any of its protectees,” Bonder added. “The Shapiro Administration appreciates the offers of support for this work and we will continue to work collaboratively with the General Assembly to protect public safety across the Commonwealth.”
