A Democrat congressman has introduced legislation to terminate Secret Service protection for anyone convicted of a “Federal or State offense that is punishable for a term of imprisonment of at least one year.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the former chair of the Jan. 6 select committee, introduced the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act.
In a fact sheet of the bill, Thompson made it clear the legislation would apply to President Trump.
“This measure would apply to former President Trump. It also would apply to all Secret Service protectees convicted and sentenced under felony charges,” the fact sheet read.
“Former President Donald J. Trump’s unprecedented 91 felony charges in Federal and State courts across the country have created a new exigency that Congress must address to ensure Secret Service protection does not interfere with the criminal judicial process and the administration of justice,” it read.
“The purpose of this bill is to hand off inmate protection to relevant prison authorities rather than involve the Secret Service. Further, the removal of Secret Service protection does not change the criminal statutes or alter the penalty for crimes,” it stated.
JUST IN: Rep. Bennie Thompson (former chair of the Jan. 6 committee) has introduced legislation that would terminate Secret Service protection for, uh, anyone sentenced to a year or more in jail. https://t.co/0EyltMuwUa pic.twitter.com/TLi2ZqXw38
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 19, 2024
Byron York, chief political correspondent at the Washington Examiner, said the legislation would “make it easier for someone to kill Trump.”
“Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson ran the January 6 committee, which mixed elements of show trial and reality series. Focused solely on Trump, of course. Now, Thompson wants to take away Trump’s Secret Service protection if Trump is convicted on any of the 88 felony charges levelled against him by elected Democratic prosecutors and a Biden Justice Department appointee. Obvious subtext here is that removing USSS would make it easier for someone to kill Trump, which is arguably the goal of Thompson’s bill, H.R. 8081: The DISGRACED Former Protectees Act,” York said.
Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson ran the January 6 committee, which mixed elements of show trial and reality series. Focused solely on Trump, of course. Now, Thompson wants to take away Trump's Secret Service protection if Trump is convicted on any of the 88 felony charges…
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 19, 2024
“House Democrats move to try to ensure Trump is murdered by removing his Secret Service protection?” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton questioned.
BREAKING: House Democrats move to try to ensure Trump is murdered by removing his Secret Service protection? https://t.co/ZWHrrWpxRM
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) April 20, 2024
“They’re literally trying to remove Trump’s Secret Service protection under a new bill. If this happens, and something happens to him, BLOOD is on your hands. And we won’t let that go,” Ryan Fournier stated.
They’re literally trying to remove Trump’s Secret Service protection under a new bill.
If this happens, and something happens to him, BLOOD is on your hands.
And we won’t let that go.
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) April 20, 2024
The Epoch Times reports:
The bill comes as the opening arguments for President Trump’s “hush-money” trial are set to begin on April 22. A full jury and alternate jurors for the case were selected on April 19. President Trump is facing 34 charges in the case, with each count carrying a maximum jail time of four years.
In the case, President Trump is alleged to have falsified his business records regarding diverting funds to his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
The funds were supposedly given to Mr. Cohen to make hush-money payments to bury controversial stories linked to the former president. The focus of the case is a payment worth $130,000 made by Mr. Cohen to adult actress Stormy Daniels.
The payment was allegedly made to prevent Ms. Daniels from publicly revealing during the 2016 campaign that she had an affair with the former president in the mid-2000s. President Trump has denied making the payment and having the affair.
The case will be presided over by Judge Juan Merchan. Ahead of the trial in Manhattan, Judge Merchan issued a gag order prohibiting President Trump from talking about witnesses and jurors. The order was later expanded to ban President Trump from commenting on Judge Merchan’s family members.
Read the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act HERE.