Moments after an attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump, a staff member in Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson’s office took to Facebook in a series of posts that expressed disappointment in the gunman’s aim, suggested Trump had gotten what he deserved, and raised questions about whether the shooting was “staged.”
Congressman Bennie Thompson told Fox News, “I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment.”
Magnolia Tribune was the first media outlet to capture and publish screenshots of the posts made by Jacqueline Marsaw, who listed her position with Congressman Thompson’s office as that of a case manager/field director. Shortly after Magnolia Tribune staff posted the screenshots, the post went viral, attracting nearly 4 million views.
Marsaw deleted the original posts and eventually her Facebook account.
“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,” her post read.
Congressman Thompson has been one of former President Trump’s most outspoken critics, chairing the January 6th Committee that investigated Trump’s role in the Capitol riots and recommending criminal prosecution of the former President. In April, Thompson proposed the DISGRACED Act aimed at removing Trump’s Secret Service detail if he was sentenced to prison.
Thompson publicly stood in unity with politicians from across the aisle in condemning the assassination attempt on former President Trump:
Jacqueline Marsaw, of Natchez, was not able to muster the same level of magnanimity as her boss.
In addition to the post suggesting that future assassination attempts should involve shooting lessons “so you don’t miss next time,” Marsaw included justification for the attempted assassination:
“That’s what your hate speech got you!!” the post read.
And a post suggesting the shooting was “staged”: “Couldn’t happened to a nicer fellow but was it staged” the post read.
Bennie Thompson is currently running for a 16th term in the U.S. House of Representatives and will be on the ballot this fall.
Congressman Thompson, 76, has been serving as the U.S. Representative for Mississippi's Second Congressional District since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security since 2019, previously holding the position from 2007 to 2011.
-- By Russ Latino for the Magnolia Tribune.
