Rep. Thompson Introduces Bill to Strip Secret Service Protection from Ex-Executives Convicted of Felonies

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) has introduced the "Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable (DISGRACED) Former Protectees Act " that would strip Secret Service protection from former executives convicted of felonies carrying a year or more in prison. The bill, introduced on Friday, is aimed at avoiding complications if former President Donald Trump is sentenced to jail time.

The legislation states that Secret Service protection would terminate for any person upon sentencing following conviction for a federal or state offense punishable by at least one year in prison. Thompson, who chaired the now-disbanded Jan. 6 committee, cited concerns that current law does not anticipate how Secret Service protection would impact the felony prison sentence of a protectee, even a former president.

Why this matters: The bill would ensure equal administration of justice and remove potential conflicts of authority within prisons by handing off inmate protection to relevant prison authorities rather than involving the Secret Service. It aims to prevent protective status from translating into preferential treatment for convicted felons sentenced to prison time.

While the bill does not explicitly name Trump, it notes that his "unprecedented 91 felony charges in Federal and State courts across the country have created a new exigency that Congress must address." The former president is currently facing multiple trials in various jurisdictions related to alleged hush money payments, hoarding of classified documents, efforts to interfere in the 2020 election, and racketeering related to the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces hundreds of years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Thompson stated that the bill would remove the potential for conflicting lines of authority within prisons and allow judges to weigh the sentencing of individuals without having to factor in the logistical concerns of convicts with Secret Service protection. The move targets Secret Service protections that have left some legal observers suggesting that any eventual conviction of Trump would likely spur some form of home confinement rather than prison time.

The "DISGRACED Former Protectees Act" is co-sponsored by several other representatives and seeks to clarify that prison authorities would be responsible for the protection of all inmates regardless of previous Secret Service protection. If passed, the legislation would automatically terminate Secret Service protection for those sentenced to prison following conviction for a federal or state felony, ensuring that convicted former executives serve their full sentences without preferential treatment.

Key Takeaways

• Rep. Bennie Thompson introduced a bill to strip Secret Service protection from convicted felons.
• The bill aims to prevent preferential treatment for convicted felons with Secret Service protection.
• The bill is seen as targeting former President Trump, who faces multiple trials and charges.
• The bill would hand over inmate protection to prison authorities, not the Secret Service.
• The bill is co-sponsored and seeks to ensure convicted felons serve their full sentences.