Post later deleted
A Saturday Facebook post associated with a staff member of Mississippi’s Democratic U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson seemed to support an assassination attempt on Former President Donald Trump.
The post has since been deleted but has drawn rapid ire from Mississippi Republicans.
On Saturday, as Trump was delivering a speech during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, several shots rang out through the crowd. One of those would wound the former president in the ear, one would kill an attendee and two others were severely wounded.
Following the attack, Thompson’s Case Manager and Field Director Jacqueline Marsaw’s Facebook page had the following post:
“I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time oops that wasn’t me saying that,” the post read.
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About an hour later, the posted was deleted. Whether Marsaw actually posted that herself or if someone accessed her account to do it, it did not stop a flurry of backlash from other Facebook users and even the Mississippi GOP.
In a post made to X, formerly Twitter, the Mississippi Republican Party demanded her removed from Thompson’s payroll.
“Bennie Thompson should fire his field director for condoning the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump,” the post read.
More on rally attack Trump shot in ear in apparent assassination attempt at rally; 1 attendee dead, 2 seriously injured
Following the attack, USA Today reported Trump had been injured but is not seriously hurt, and that a shooter was now dead. It was the first shooting of a U.S. presidential candidate since Ronald Raegan in 1981.
Despite the seemingly harsh words from Marsaw, Thompson posted to X following the assassination attempt that he was appalled by the attack.
“There is no room in American democracy for political violence,” he wrote. “I am grateful for law enforcement’s fast response to this incident. I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.”
Read other state officials responses Donald Trump offered prayers, support from MS leaders following rally shooting
Thompson’s Press Secretary of Director of Communications Yasmine Brown did not respond to calls for comment on whether Marsaw was the one to issue her statement on her Facebook page, if someone had asked her account, or if there would be any repercussions.
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at [email protected] or 972-571-2335.
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Source Link: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/13/thompson-staffer-page-posts-deletes-words-supporting-trump-shooting/74397767007/
Thompson staffer page posts, deletes words supporting Trump shooting
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