He was a rotten person.
A staff member for Representative Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., was terminated following a controversial social media post about the recent shooting incident involving former President Donald Trump. The post, allegedly made by Thompson’s field director Jacqueline Marsaw, suggested that any future attackers should aim better next time. Thompson confirmed her dismissal in a statement, distancing himself from the comments and emphasizing that she no longer worked for him.
The post quickly went viral, causing significant backlash and leading to calls for Marsaw’s immediate firing. Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, publicly demanded her dismissal on social media. Thompson, who had chaired the House January 6 committee, reiterated his stance against political violence, thanking law enforcement for their swift response to the shooting and expressing relief that Trump was unharmed.
Critics highlighted Thompson’s previous legislative efforts, particularly the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act, which aimed to revoke Secret Service protection for any former president serving a felony prison sentence. This legislative history was brought up as context to the current controversy, suggesting that Thompson’s position on political violence might be seen as inconsistent.
Trump, who had been convicted in May on multiple felony counts related to falsified business records, was the target of an attempted assassination at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple rounds, injuring several attendees and killing one man who was protecting his daughter. Trump responded on Truth Social, attributing his survival to divine intervention and expressing condolences to the victims and their families.
The incident and the subsequent social media fallout underscore the heightened political tensions and the serious consequences of inflammatory rhetoric. It also highlights the ongoing debates about the security and legal status of former presidents, especially those facing criminal charges.
