MS Auditor calls for US House Rep. Bennie Thompson to resign

A group of Mississippi Republicans are calling for U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., to resign after a now former staffer posted support for a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

In posts made on X Sunday, State Auditor Shad White and others called out Thompson for hiring radical staff, referring to Jacqueline Marsaw, a field director who said the man who shot at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, should have practiced his aim better so that he wouldn’t “miss next time.”

Read about Marsaw’s postBennie Thompson staffer’s Facebook page posts ‘don’t miss next time’ after Trump shooting

White also said Thompson should give up his seat in the U.S. House because he filed a bill earlier this year that seeks to take away Trump’s Secret Service detail as a convicted felon. That bill is currently being considered in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.

“Bennie Thompson is an embarrassment to the state,” White told the Clarion Ledger on Sunday. “It was completely irresponsible when he proposed legislation to take away President Trump’s Secret Service protection. He is one of the most senior Democrats on the U.S. House Homeland Security committee, so he knows better. In my opinion he wanted to endanger President Trump’s life to score some political points. He has clearly hired and promoted nut job staffers, as one openly called for President Trump’s assassination. Thompson should resign immediately.”

The Mississippi Republican Party, which previously called for Marsaw to resign Saturday night, posted to X later Sunday that Thompson needed to quit, too, noting Marsaw’s post, his Secret Service removal bill and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot investigation committee that he sat on.

Mississippi GOP Chair Mike Hurst told the Clarion Ledger the demand came from several places, including that Thompson shows animosity toward Trump, the Jan. 6 committee hearings and a lack of response on Marsaw’s actions Saturday night, among other reasons.

“Congressman Thompson fired the lady, thank goodness, but he still doesn’t condemn what she said,” Hurst said. “He hasn’t condemned what anyone else has said either that continues to escalate the tension between Americans. I mean, we’ve got to have some grownups in the room, and right now, Congressman Thompson is not one of them.”

Thompson, who told the Clarion Ledger that Marsaw, as of Sunday, is no longer in his employment, stood by his bill in a response to those scrutinizing his piece of legislation.

According to the U.S. Legislature website, the bill would only remove Secret Service protection for convicted felons upon sentencing. Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in May in New York, but he has not been sentenced.

“My bill would not have affected the Secret Service’s presence during this tragic event,” Thompson said. “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.”

On Saturday, while Trump was giving a speech to a crowd of thousands in Butler, Pennsylvania, several shots rang out through the crowd, killing at least one person, slightly injuring Trump and seriously wounding two others.

According to reporting by the USA Today Network, Trump was not seriously injured, and the shooter was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks.

More on the shootingTrump wounded at rally in assassination attempt; gunman killed

The FBI told reporters that Crooks was also shot dead within moments of opening fire on Trump. Crooks was registered as a Republican and was in active voting status, according to the database service LexisNexis. He appears to have attended Bethel Park High School, graduating in 2022.

Mississippi House Representative and state Democratic Party Chair Cheikh Taylor of Starkville told the Clarion Ledger he thought White’s post sewed further division during a time when state leaders and lawmakers should be coming together.

“Everyone needs to take a step back and look at what’s important,” Taylor said. “The most important thing is the ballot box and fleshing issues out in a way that’s peaceful and is respectable.”

Taylor said it would be foolish to hold Thompson accountable to the degree White has demanded, especially when considering Marsaw posted on her own Facebook page without anyone else’s prior knowledge.

“There is no way to control all the ideas and thought processes of all staffers,” Taylor said. “Everyone has the right to their own personal opinions, but I trust Congressman Thompson, his leadership and his ability to handle his own office. Whatever decision he makes, I think will be the right decision.”

Read state reactions to Trump attackDonald Trump offered prayers, support from MS leaders following rally shooting

Marsaw did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication.

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect several state Republicans calling for Thompson’s resignation. As of 4 p.m., Thompson had not yet put out a statement detailing the incident with his staffer other than to say she is no longer working there.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.