A Resolution directing the Government Oversight Committee to conduct an investigation.

PRINTER'S NO. 1703
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 236
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY TOPPER AND C. WILLIAMS, MAY 13, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MAY 13, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Government Oversight Committee to conduct an
investigation.
WHEREAS, In the early morning hours of April 13, 2025, an
arson attack occurred at the Governor's Residence located at
2035 North Front Street, Harrisburg; and
WHEREAS, Security cameras surrounding the residence were able
to capture footage of an individual climbing over an exterior
perimeter fence before breaking a window and throwing a Molotov
cocktail, an incendiary device that is composed of a glass
bottle containing flammable liquid and a source of ignition,
into the piano room of the residence, causing it to catch on
fire; and
WHEREAS, The individual has been identified by law
enforcement as Cody Balmer pursuant to the now-filed criminal
complaint; and
WHEREAS, According to the affidavit of probable cause
attached to the criminal complaint, the information regarding
the incident in this resolution is alleged by law enforcement;
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and
WHEREAS, Mr. Balmer broke a second window outside the dining
room before entering through it; and
WHEREAS, While inside, Mr. Balmer launched another Molotov
cocktail, causing the dining room to ignite into flames; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Balmer then kicked the dining room door open,
exited the residence and left the property by climbing back over
the perimeter fence; and
WHEREAS, All of this occurred while Governor Josh Shapiro,
First Lady Lori Shapiro and their children were inside the
Governor's Residence; and
WHEREAS, Later, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) were
contacted by a former paramour of Mr. Balmer who advised that
Mr. Balmer had confessed to her that he was responsible for
setting the fire at the Governor's Residence; and
WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, Mr. Balmer turned himself in and
confessed to PSP to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro
and committing the arson; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Balmer was charged with attempted homicide,
aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, aggravated assault,
endangering the welfare of a child and loitering and prowling at
night according to the criminal complaint; and
WHEREAS, On April 18, 2025, PSP announced through a statement
on their public website that former PSP Commissioner Jeffrey
Miller and his consulting company had been hired to conduct a
third-party security review of the arson attack at the
Governor's Residence; and
WHEREAS, The statement also made clear that only PSP and the
Governor's Office would receive a detailed written report of
former PSP Commissioner Miller's findings; and
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WHEREAS, On April 23, 2025, the House of Representatives
Republicans, including House Republican Leader Jesse Topper,
along with Chairmen Craig Williams, Jim Struzzi and Rob
Kauffman, wrote a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and State
Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris requesting former
PSP Commissioner Miller's report and investigation results; and
WHEREAS, Governor Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder stated
the following in response to the letter: "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. 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"; and
WHEREAS, On April 28, 2025, former PSP Commissioner Miller
and his consulting company delivered the full report to PSP and
the Governor's Office; and
WHEREAS, In a statement on his consulting company's website,
former PSP Commissioner Miller stated that the sensitive nature
of the findings he gave to Governor Shapiro and the PSP
"precludes their release to the public for obvious reasons"; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, former PSP Commissioner Miller
expressed that "I am confident that if fully implemented, the
key recommendations that we have made will prevent an attack of
this nature from succeeding in the future"; and
WHEREAS, To date, legislative leaders and appropriate
oversight committees have received no portion of former PSP
Commissioner Miller's report; and
WHEREAS, On May 6, 2025, PSP Commissioner Christopher Paris
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sent a letter to legislative leaders to provide an update on
former PSP Commissioner Miller's independent security review;
and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Paris stated that as a result of former
PSP Commissioner Miller's review and PSP's own assessment, PSP
had implemented several recommendations laid out in the report,
including requiring regular, more frequent security assessments
at the Governor's Residence, creating a uniformed division
within the Executive Services Office in charge of building
security and installing a new anti-climb fence around the
residence; and
WHEREAS, The letter was clear that former PSP Commissioner
Miller's report includes sensitive and detailed information and
any release of it would risk jeopardizing the safety of the
Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, their families and all PSP
protectees; and
WHEREAS, There are legitimate security and safety concerns
related to a full public review of all of the security records
and plans associated with an investigation into the arson of the
Governor's Residence; and
WHEREAS, The Government Oversight Committee has the ability
to conduct an investigation, craft recommendations and produce a
final report in conjunction with various safeguards for security
and related concerns found in the Sunshine Act, the Right-to-
Know Law, other applicable laws and Rules of the House of
Representatives; and
WHEREAS, Many members of the public feel that this incident
has wholly lacked transparency and accountability, which was
illustrated by a recent Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial
entitled: Report about security failings around the arson attack
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on Gov. Shapiro should be made public, which stated
"Pennsylvanians have a right to know what a report they paid for
says about the failure of the law enforcement officers they
employ to protect a mansion they built and the governor they
elected"; and
WHEREAS, Also recently a Trib Live Editorial entitled:
Transparency versus security over arson at governor's residence
stated the author's belief that "while some information has been
disclosed more should be to ensure accountability for those
charged with protecting the governor"; and
WHEREAS, As elected representatives many of us also have
serious and legitimate concerns about how this incident could
have occurred at a protected facility such as the Governor's
Residence; and
WHEREAS, The decision to have a former PSP commissioner and
his consulting company complete an independent review of the
security failures in question and then only release a written
report to PSP and the Governor's Office and no part of the
report to the General Assembly provides no transparency and does
little to address the concerns of the General Assembly;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee of the
House of Representatives be directed to investigate the facts
surrounding the security protocols, records, plans and failures
that failed to avert the arson attack on the Governor's
Residence on April 13, 2025, and to report to the House of
Representatives the conclusions of the committee with respect to
the investigation along with the committee's appropriate
recommendations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee of the
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House of Representatives be authorized and empowered to:
(1) Send for individuals and papers and subpoena
witnesses, documents, including electronically stored
information, and other materials under the hand and seal of
the chairperson.
(2) Administer oaths to witnesses.
(3) Take testimony.
(4) Prepare and file pleadings and other legal
documents.
(5) Conduct interviews, take statements and any other
investigative steps as determined by the chairperson.
(6) Employ counsel and staff for the use of the
chairperson and the Government Oversight Committee;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That, unless in conflict with other provisions of
this resolution, House Rule 51 be applicable to hearings of the
Government Oversight Committee concerning this investigation;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Sergeant-at-Arms or the Sergeant-at-Arms'
deputy serve the process of the Government Oversight Committee
of the House of Representatives and execute the committee's
orders; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee of the
House of Representatives be authorized to sit during the
sessions of the House of Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the expenses of the investigation be paid by
the Chief Clerk from appropriation accounts under the Chief
Clerk's exclusive control and jurisdiction upon a written
request approved by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives or the
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Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee submit a
final report to the House of Representatives with its findings
and recommendations.
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