Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) is under fire for a bill he introduced earlier this year that would strip U.S. Secret Service protection from convicted and imprisoned felons who face more than a year of incarceration.

The Disgraced Former Protectees Act (H.R. 8081), if passed, could include removing protection from former president Trump.
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Thompson claims his bill would not have removed Trump’s protection detail prior to the Butler, Pennsylvania rally, saying, “My bill would not have affected the Secret Service’s presence during this tragic event. 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.”

That bill has seen no action in the GOP-controlled House but has not been withdrawn, even after the failed assassination attempt on Trump on July 13.

The Mississippi Congressman was chairman of the J6 Committee which recommended criminal charges against Trump for what the committee called inciting an insurrection.

Following the July 13 attempt on Trump’s life, a field director for Thompson posted on Facebook, “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.” Thompson later said that the staffer had been fired.

Thompson is also facing scrutiny as his name has been mentioned as a potential appointee to a bipartisan task force announced by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to investigate Trump’s near assassination.

Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) questioned whether individuals such as Thompson, who have displayed politicized malice should have no place on that task force.

Thompson’s numerous conflicts of interest make it doubtful that he or other similarly compromised members of the task force can do the job of handling such an investigation.