Regardless of one’s politics, the national defense credentials of U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, cannot be denied. As such, Colorado and the rest of the country should take comfort in Crow’s appointment this week as the ranking member of the bipartisan task force to investigate the near assassination of former President Donald Trump.

The country must have answers to this highly suspicious Secret Service debacle, and we trust Crow will help find them.

One cannot overemphasize the need for this new committee to find, distribute and explain the truth. This cannot happen again. A successful murder of Trump, President Joe Biden or presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris could destabilize our country to the point of blood in the streets.

Anyone who considers Crow just another surplus lawyer in Congress doesn’t know his background.

Crow paid his way through college by serving in the National Guard. After 9/11, Crow went on active duty. He led a platoon of paratroopers during the invasion of Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division and later joined the 75th Ranger Regiment to serve two tours in Afghanistan as part of the Joint Special Operations Task Force.

Stay up to speed: Sign up for daily opinion in your inbox Monday-Friday

Only after risking his life for our country did Crow attend law school. He devoted his practice to helping veterans obtain the benefits they earned — benefits often obstructed by intractable bureaucratic niggling.

On the House floor, Crow showed leadership in protecting colleagues during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. It is hard to think of a congressional Democrat better prepared to figure out a national security catastrophe that killed a heroic former fire chief, injured others and nearly killed Trump.

“We have the utmost confidence in ranking member Rep. Jason Crow and this bipartisan group of steady, qualified and capable members of Congress to move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability and help make certain such failures never happen again,” said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a joint statement.

Crow appears to know the weight of this appointment.

“Political violence has no place in our democracy. Period,” Crow said in a news release. “We must be united in the belief as Americans, not as Republicans or Democrats, that political disagreement is settled through rigorous discourse, not violence … I will treat it (the investigation) like what it is: a solemn, urgent, and necessary responsibility. The American people deserve clear answers and assurances that we will not let this happen again.”

Any attack on one of our country’s leaders should unite Americans — not around a candidate, but around the country and our commonalities as Americans.

The rest of the free world depends on the United States projecting strength by growing and maintaining it. Nothing conveys weakness like our government allowing a troubled 20-year-old to openly prepare for an assassination, in view of hundreds, without taking action to stop him.

Crow — as a civilian, not a politician — served his country at a high, strategic and dangerous level. His work is not done.

As Coloradans, we should thank Crow for his service defending this country and his willingness to continue it. At the end of this investigation, we hope to applaud him as the person who most demanded and obtained answers and solutions.

Our country’s future of peace requires no less of this committee and its ranking member, Rep. Jason Crow.

Colorado Springs Gazette Editorial Board