The office of Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02) was silent Monday when asked by The Tennessee Star whether Thompson, who introduced a bill that would have stripped former President Trump of his Secret Service detail, had reconsidered that bill in light of Trump’s near assassination on Saturday.
Thompson’s spokeswoman, Yasmine Brown, did not return a comment request from The Star.
His bill, H.R. 8081, which he named the Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable (DISGRACED) act Former Protectees Act, which was filed amid Trump’s criminal trial in New York for falsifying business documents, and was a clear jab at the former president, would have ended Trump’s Secret Service detail for life.
“The DISGRACED Former Protectees Act would terminate Secret Service protection for individuals who otherwise qualify for it upon sentencing following conviction for a Federal or State felony,” a fact sheet on the bill said. “This measure would apply to former President Trump. It also would apply to all Secret Service protectees convicted and sentenced under felony charges.”
Secret Service piled on top of Trump at Saturday’s rally in Pennsylvania when shots rang out, wrestling him to the ground to protect him. He was shot in the ear and suffered minor injuries.
Thompson, who is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, found himself at the center of the attempted assassination conversation when his Field Director, Jacqueline Marsaw, posted on Facebook that she wished Trump had been hit more directly in the shooting.
“I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time ooops that wasn’t me talking,” Jacqueline Marsaw wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post, The Natchez Democrat reported.
Marsaw’s post came just hours after the attempted assassination.
Johnson told Fox News on Sunday that Marsaw has been fired.
“I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment,” Thompson said, according to Fox.
Despite his own actions and the rhetoric of his staff, Thompson denounced the assassination attempt on X on Saturday night.
“There is no room in American democracy for political violence,” he said. “I am grateful for law enforcement’s fast response to this incident. I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.”
There is no room in American democracy for political violence. I am grateful for law enforcement’s fast response to this incident.
I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) July 13, 2024
For the three years prior to his bill proposal, Thompson served as the chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. The committee sat from July 20, 2021 until it was disbanded with the release of it materials on January 2, 2023.
Conservative commentators weren’t buying Thompson’s regretful tone.
“You tried to strip his secret service protection,” said Will Chamberlain. “If you had succeeded, President Trump would be dead. Resign.”
You tried to strip his secret service protection.
If you had succeeded, President Trump would be dead.
Resign.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) July 14, 2024
Many others echoed the same sentiment.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X/Twitter.
Photo “Bennie Thompson” by Bennie G. Thompson.
