A prominent House Democrat’s staffer who posted to social media about the gunman needing “shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time” — after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt — is out of the job.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), who served as chairman of the now-defunct January 6 Committee, confirmed on Sunday the ouster of the aide — field director Jacqueline Marsaw — as the congressman faced mounting calls to fire her over the comment.
“I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment,” Thompson said, according to Fox News.
In the attack at Trump’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, the former president was shot in the ear, one bystander was killed, and two other attendees were seriously injured.
The Secret Service said its personnel “neutralized” the shooter, who was seen on a rooftop approximately 150 yards away from the stage where Trump had been speaking.
Afterwards, Marsaw posted to 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.”
The post was deleted, but not before a screenshot was taken and shared to social media. The Mississippi GOP and others soon began calling for Marsaw’s employment to be terminated.
.@BennieGThompson should FIRE his field director for condoning the attempted assassination of President @realDonaldTrump!!!
“please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time”
.@msdemocrats must repudiate these despicable statements!!!@WLBT @16WAPTNews @WJTV… pic.twitter.com/QVWu4OtUI2
— Mississippi GOP (@MSGOP) July 14, 2024
The Natchez Democrat reported Marsaw said she took down the post following a request from a manager on Thompson’s staff.
“I got overwhelmed in the moment,” Marsaw said. “I am a diehard Democrat.”
The local news outlet in Mississippi also pointed out Marsaw “said her post was meant for its comic value and not to be taken seriously.”
Congressman Thompson himself posted to X a statement that denounced political violence and voiced relief that Trump had survived the attack.
“There is no room in American democracy for political violence. I am grateful for law enforcement’s fast response to this incident,” he said. “I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.”
Thompson is also facing blowback for legislation he introduced in April that could strip Trump or anyone else of Secret Service protection after being convicted of a felony.
In May, a jury convicted Trump on dozens of felony counts in a New York hush-money case. Sentencing has been postponed until at least September as Trump seeks to get the conviction thrown out.
As noted by The Washington Times, Thompson insisted his bill “would not have affected the Secret Service’s presence” during the shooting at the Pennsylvania rally and will only apply to Trump if he is sentenced to prison and in the custody of another law enforcement agency.
