Former presidents are former presidents regardless of what happens to them after they leave the White House, and because of that — and because of what they know — they are protected for life by law by Secret Service agents. However, one Democrat wants to deprive former President Donald Trump of his protection.
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s own views.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who chaired the highly partisan “Jan. 6 Committee”—the same one that apparently hid or destroyed evidence that could have exonerated former president Donald Trump of several allegations, according to GOP House investigators—wants Trump to lose Secret Service protection if he is found guilty in any of his four criminal cases.
House Homeland Security Committee Democrats on Friday posted to X the comments of Thompson: “Unfortunately, current law doesn’t anticipate how Secret Service protection would impact the felony prison sentence of a protectee — even a former President. It is regrettable that it has come to this, but this previously unthought-of scenario could become our reality.”
JUST IN: Congressman @BennieGThompson introduced legislation to ensure no Secret Service protection for convicted felons sentenced to prison.
READ MORE HERE: https://t.co/pwSYtd5sVN pic.twitter.com/1N65BHk5yQ
— House Homeland Security Committee Democrats (@HomelandDems) April 19, 2024
The farcically named bill, called the Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable Former Protectees Act (DISGRACED), aims to “deny infinite security and government resources” to those convicted of a federal or state offense, Newsmax reported.
Thompson’s fact sheet notes that Congress may need to update the Secret Service’s mission in response to exigent circumstances.
“Therefore, it is necessary for us to be prepared and update the law so the American people can be assured that protective status does not translate into special treatment — and that those who are sentenced to prison will indeed serve the time required of them,” Thompson’s remarks continued.
In his notes, the partisan Democrat made sure to denote that his legislation would apply to Trump.
The Trump hush money case revolves around accusations that Trump instructed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to make payments to adult entertainer Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, with the condition that they remain silent about alleged affairs with Trump, which he has denied. Trump faces allegations of falsifying business records to conceal these payments.
The selection of 12 jurors and six alternates for the trial, to begin on Monday, was completed on Friday.
Meanwhile, a surprise potential witness who has been reportedly talking to former President Donald Trump’s legal team for months has agreed to come forward and potentially serve as a witness in his ‘hush money’ case involving adult film star Daniels.
Michael Avenatti, the imprisoned former attorney who represented Daniels in an unsuccessful lawsuit against Trump, is reportedly in discussions with the former president’s legal team regarding his hush money trial. A report on Friday indicated that Avenatti has even offered to serve as a witness for the defense.
According to the New York Post, Avenatti, who was convicted of defrauding Daniels out of book advance money and attempting to extort fashion giant Nike, among other federal crimes, stated that Trump’s legal team “has contacted me.” He further mentioned that he has been in discussions with Trump’s attorneys for nine months.
“I’d be more than happy to testify, I don’t know that I will be called to testify, but I have been in touch with Trump’s defense for the better part of year,” he told The Post in a phone call from Terminal Island, a minimum-security federal prison in Los Angeles where he is currently serving a 19-year sentence.