Following her provocative remarks in which she expressed her desire for the assassin who tried to kill former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign event to have succeeded, Democratic U.S. lawmaker Bennie Thompson fired his assistant.
Members of the Homeland Security Committee, including Mr. Thompson, denounced the incident that left one rallygoer dead and Mr. Trump wounded on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. A few guests suffered serious injuries during the assault.
Jacqueline Marsaw, a field director for Mr. Thompson, commented on Facebook that the gunman ought to have had better aim amid widespread protests across the world over the botched assassination attempt.
Ms. Marsaw wrote on Saturday, “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.”
Despite Ms. Marsaw’s later deletion of the message, a screenshot rapidly went viral, sparking indignation from the public and demands that she be fired.
On Sunday, Mr. Thompson released a statement in response to the uproar around his assistant’s Facebook post.
“I was informed of a post made by a staff member, and she is no longer employed by me,” he stated.
International outrage of the incident has been echoed by American officials who promise a comprehensive inquiry. On the internet, a disturbing video of Mr. Trump with blood on his face and ear has gone viral.
After opening fire at the campaign event, the gunman, identified as Pennsylvanian 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents.
