(The Center Square) – Nine Democrats in the U.S. House sought to strip former President Donald Trump of his Secret Service detail just months before an assassination attempt was made against him on Saturday.
After Trump survived the shooting, one of their staffers reportedly said in a Facebook post the shooter needed shooting lessons so he wouldn’t “miss the next time.” The post has since been deleted and the staffer has been fired.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who chaired the bipartisan select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attacks, introduced a bill in April to strip Trump of his Secret Service detail. The bill was introduced on April 19 and has gone nowhere in the Republican- controlled House.
The Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable Former Protectees Act, or the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act, would amend current law to terminate U.S. Secret Service protection for “those who have been sentenced to prison following conviction for a Federal or State felony – clarifying that prison authorities would be responsible for the protection of all inmates regardless of previous Secret Service protection,” according to a Thompson press release.
“Unfortunately, current law doesn’t anticipate how Secret Service protection would impact the felony prison sentence of a protectee – even a former President,” Thompson said. “It is regrettable that it has come to this, but this previously unthought-of scenario could become our reality. Therefore, it is necessary for us to be prepared and update the law so the American people can be assured that protective status does not translate into special treatment – and that those who are sentenced to prison will indeed serve the time required of them.”
Eight Democratic Reps. cosponsored the bill: Troy Carter of Louisiana, Barbara Lee of California, Frederica Wilson of Florida, Yvette Clarke of New York, Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Joyce Beatty of Ohio, and Steve Cohen of Tennessee.
Trump was recently convicted on 34 felony counts in what he describes as a baseless “political witch hunt” case brought against him by political rivals. Sentencing in the case was postponed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled all presidents have immunity from prosecution for core constitutional acts and official acts. The high court ruled earlier this month in a 6-3 decision that the "president's exercise of his core constitutional powers, this immunity must be absolute. As for his remaining official actions, he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity."
In response, Trump called for all of the criminal prosecutions against him to end.
“Today’s Historic Decision by the Supreme Court should end all of Crooked Joe Biden’s Witch Hunts against me, including the New York Hoaxes - The Manhattan SCAM cooked up by Soros backed D.A., Alvin Bragg, Racist New York Attorney General Tish James’ shameless ATTACK on the amazing business that I have built, and the FAKE Bergdorf’s ‘case,’” he wrote on TruthSocial. “PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”
President Joe Biden and other Democrats said the ruling created a “dangerous precedent.”
Thompson said, “a lawless and corrupt Supreme Court extreme conservative majority rewrote the Constitution for their master, Donald Trump, and dangerously undermined the rule of law in this country. By granting a twice-impeached felon absolute immunity for many of his acts that sought to undermine the legitimate results of the 2020 Presidential election, such as weaponizing the Department of Justice to do his campaign’s bidding, these extreme Justices clearly put the ex-President above the law. Further, they have granted criminal defendant Trump even more delays – which is not only what he desperately wanted but will also deny the American people justice before a critical election.”
On Saturday, Thompson’s case manager and field director, Jacqueline Marsaw, posted on Facebook, “I don't condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don't miss next time oops that wasn't me saying that."
Rep. Thompson issued a statement, saying, "I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment,” his director of communications, Yasmine Brown, told The Center Square.
On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said, “I can only imagine what could have happened had House Democrats been successful in their attempts to terminate his Secret Service detail. This should be a sobering reminder to them and others on the Left that their rhetoric and actions matter.
“Our democratic process will not be deterred by this baseless act, as President Trump so powerfully demonstrated. Millions of Americans will never forget seeing his fist in the air — a symbol of hope, courage, and strength in the face of despicable evil.”
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