Maine lawmakers reached a unanimous decision on Tuesday to pass a bill granting subpoena power to the commission investigating the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, sending the proposal to Gov. Janet Mills for her signature. Once signed by the governor, the measure will take immediate effect. It garnered unanimous support in both the House of Representatives and Senate after undergoing thorough discussions and minor adjustments during committee meetings.
At its inaugural meeting in November, the seven-member commission requested subpoena power to compel witnesses to testify and obtain additional records. This authority is crucial, as the commission encountered unnamed witnesses who either refused to testify or were instructed by their superiors not to do so, according to Executive Director Anne Jordan.
The commission’s remaining scheduled meetings include appearances by Maine State Police officials on Thursday and U.S. Army personnel on March 7. A commission spokesperson confirmed Monday that the Army has granted permission for personnel to testify next month, although the specific individuals who will appear remain uncertain.
Investigators are expected to focus on Army Reserve leaders and peers of gunman Robert Card II, as a third-party report revealed that superiors had disregarded warnings from Card’s fellow reservists in the weeks leading up to the October 25 rampage. Reports indicated that Card had displayed erratic behavior and made threats to “shoot up” locations.
Governor Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey, both Democrats, formed the seven-member commission and charged it with investigating the events leading up to and following the mass shooting at a Lewiston bowling alley and bar, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people and injuries to 13 others. The shooter, 40-year-old Army reservist Robert Card from Bowdoin, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a 48-hour manhunt.
In January, the commission heard from personnel at the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, who responded to concerns from Card’s family and peers regarding his mental health, access to firearms, and threats of committing a shooting in the months leading up to the October tragedy. Additionally, the commission received testimonies from family members of victims and local law enforcement officials in Lewiston and Lisbon.
