Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday responded to the high school shooting in Florida by urging Congress to “look at these issues,” but without any specific recommendation.
“Personally, I think the gun violence — it’s a tragedy what we’ve seen yesterday, and I urge Congress to look at these issues,” Mnuchin said at an unrelated hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Mnuchin was supposed to be testifying about the White House budget and taxes, but was questioned by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., about the shooting and the possibility for gun legislation.
Mnuchin responded that that gun issues fell outside his purview as Treasury Secretary, but told Lewis: “I assure you, I appreciate the severity and the tragedy, and I will speak to the president and the other Cabinet members.”
Seventeen people were killed and several were injured when Nikolas Cruz, 19, opened fire at the high school in South Florida. Cruz was arrested and charged Thursday with 17 counts of premeditated murder in connection to the shooting.
President Trump was scheduled to address the nation about the massacre later Thursday.
