Former President Donald Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, just months after House Democrats introduced legislation aimed at removing his Secret Service protection.
April, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, proposed the Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable (DISGRACED) Former Protectees Act (HR 8081). The bill, co-sponsored by several Democrats, sought to terminate Secret Service protection for individuals convicted of federal or state felonies.
“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,” Thompson stated. He argued that Secret Service protection should not interfere with the judicial process and administration of justice.
Following the assassination attempt, Thompson tweeted his relief that Trump was safe and praised law enforcement’s quick response. However, his previous statements indicated a strong desire to strip Trump of his Secret Service protection if convicted and sentenced to prison.
Thompson’s DISGRACED Former Protectees Act would end Secret Service protection for individuals convicted of a felony and sentenced to prison. This bill is currently awaiting further action in the House Committee on the Judiciary. Trump, who faces 34 felony convictions from a trial in May, is scheduled for sentencing in September, which could include prison time.
A source familiar with Trump’s security detail told The Federalist that Trump’s team had requested increased protection for weeks but was repeatedly denied by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This denial of enhanced security has raised concerns about the motives behind these decisions.
The DHS has also denied Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secret Service protection. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas claimed that protection was “not warranted at this time,” a decision criticized by Kennedy’s attorney as politically motivated.
Kennedy’s attorney, Aaron Siri, accused the DHS of disregarding Kennedy’s safety in a letter to Mayorkas, calling the repeated denials “contemptible.”
The recent attack on Trump has intensified scrutiny on the decisions and priorities of the DHS and the Secret Service. As the nation grapples with the implications of these actions, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of all presidential candidates and public figures.
The ongoing debate about security protocols highlights the need for a balanced approach that upholds justice while safeguarding those in the public eye.
