Nine House Democrats tried to strip former President Donald Trump of his Secret Service detail just months before the assassination attempt on Saturday. The kicker? One of their staffers had the audacity to post on Facebook that the shooter needed better aim next time. That post has since been deleted, and the staffer was promptly fired.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, who led the Jan. 6 select committee, introduced the bill in April to strip Trump of his Secret Service detail. Dubbed the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act, it aimed to cut off Secret Service protection for anyone sentenced to prison for a felony. Thompson justified this by claiming it would ensure that those sentenced to prison actually serve their time without special treatment. His bill, introduced on April 19, has gone nowhere in the Republican-controlled House.
The bill had the backing of eight other Democrats: Troy Carter, Barbara Lee, Frederica Wilson, Yvette Clarke, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jasmine Crockett, Joyce Beatty, and Steve Cohen. All seemed quite eager to leave a former president defenseless just before an assassination attempt. How convenient.
Trump, who recently faced 34 felony counts in what he calls a baseless “political witch hunt,” saw the U.S. Supreme Court grant him immunity from prosecution for core constitutional acts and official actions. The ruling effectively puts an end to several criminal cases against him, much to the dismay of President Joe Biden and his Democratic allies who called the ruling a “dangerous precedent.”
Thompson, clearly rattled by the Supreme Court’s decision, ranted about a “lawless and corrupt” conservative majority on the bench serving Trump’s interests. He accused the justices of undermining the rule of law and delaying justice for Americans. Yet, the irony seemed lost on him when his own staffer posted that the would-be assassin needed shooting lessons.
Rep. Michael McCaul didn’t mince words in his response. He slammed House Democrats for their dangerous rhetoric and actions, emphasizing how critical Trump’s Secret Service protection was, especially given recent events. He praised Trump’s resilience, recalling his defiant fist in the air as a symbol of hope and courage in the face of an attack.
In the end, the Democrats’ failed attempt to strip Trump of his protection only underscores the chaos and desperation within their ranks. Their actions and rhetoric not only endanger lives but also undermine the democratic process they claim to uphold.
