(ProsperNews.net) – Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson has introduced legislation to strip former President Donald Trump of his Secret Service protection if he is convicted of the criminal charges. The former chairman of the disbanded January 6 investigation select committee and member of the House Homeland Security Committee said his bill would end protections for “convicted felons sentenced to prison.”
Thompson described Trump’s legal situation as a “previously unthought-of scenario” which is not covered by current law. He argued that that law must be updated so the American people are assured “that protective status does not translate into special treatment.”
The legislation, entitled the Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable Former Protectees Act, or DISGRACED, will terminate access to federal protections for anyone convicted of a federal or state offense and sentenced to a prison term of one year or more.
The Mississippi represenative argued that the legislation would allow judges to decide sentences without having to factor in “logistical concerns” of jailing convicts with Secret Service protections.
Former US presidents are entitled to protection for life under legislation passed in 1965. Following the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy in 1968, the protection was extended to major-party presidential nominees, but this was recently denied to Robert F Kennedy Jr., who is standing as an independent in this year’s election.
Former Democrat Kennedy threatened to sue Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, claiming his denial of Secret Service protection was politically motivated. In a letter to Mayorkas, Kennedy furthermore contended that the Secretary had intelligence on potential threats to Mr. Kennedy that he had not shared with him.
Experts suggest that a prison sentence for Donald Trump is unlikely in the so-called “hush money” trial that got underway in New York on April 15. However, in the case against him in Florida for mishandling classified documents, the former President could face a prison term of up to 20 years.
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