Democratic congressman Bennie Thompson (Ms.) has fired one of his staff members after she glorified the attempted assassination of President Trump.
Thompson, who chaired the January 6th committee, said he was "made aware" of social media posts from his field director Jacqueline Marsaw.
"I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment,” the congressman told Fox News.
In the wake of the attempted assassination, Marsaw said it was unfortunate that the shooter didn't have better aim.
"I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time ooops [sic] that wasn’t me talking," she wrote.
While Trump survived Saturday's shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, the shooter killed a 50-year-old Trump supporter, Corey Comperatore. Two others were injured.
Some on the left have glorified the assassination attempt, but elected Democrats including Thompson have condemned it and President Biden has urged a lowering of the national temperature. even as some point to Biden's rhetoric as a contributing factor to the shooting.
"There is no room in American democracy for political violence," Thompson wrote on X. "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.”
While Thompson has denounced the shooting, many say Thompson's statement rings hollow because he tried to deny Trump Secret Service protection.
In April, Thompson introduced a bill that would strip convicted felons of Secret Service protection. Thompson insisted that the legislation would impact Trump only by coincidence, but Trump is the only U.S. president in history who is a "convicted felon."
After the assassination attempt, Donald Trump Jr. wrote, “Remember, if @BennieGThompson and the Democrats got their way, my dad would be dead right now. Don't let them memory hole it."
Thompson has doubled down on defending the controversial bill, which has the acronym DISGRACED. He says it would not affect Trump because he hasn't been incarcerated.
In April, Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in his "hush money" trial. His sentencing has been delayed to September.
“My bill would not have affected the Secret Service’s presence during this tragic event,” Thompson said in a statement Monday.
“It aims to clarify lines of authority when a protectee is sentenced to prison and is in the custody of another law enforcement agency. That does not apply to the former President.”
