NEWS
U.S Lawmaker moves to limit Trump’s privileges after conviction
The DISGRACED Act comes for former U.S president, Donald Trump.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, has introduced the Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable (DISGRACED) Former Protectees Act.
This legislation seeks to strip former U.S. President Donald Trump of his Secret Service protection if passed into law.
Trump was recently found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in the case of New York v. Trump. These charges are linked to alleged hush money payments made before the 2016 presidential election to silence pornographic performer Stormy Daniels about an alleged 2006 extramarital encounter, which Trump denies.
The conviction raises complex issues regarding the Secret Service’s responsibility to protect the former president. Rep. Thompson’s proposed bill addresses these challenges by suggesting the removal of Secret Service protection for convicted former presidents, thereby eliminating potential conflicts within the prison system should Trump face incarceration.
“Unfortunately, current law doesn’t anticipate how Secret Service protection would impact the felony prison sentence of a protectee — even a former President,” Thompson stated.
“It is regrettable that it has come to this, but this previously unthought-of scenario could become our reality.”
Thompson emphasized that his bill aims to simplify judicial proceedings and prison management for high-profile convicts.
“This 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,” he explained.
Despite the proposed legislation, the Secret Service has affirmed that Trump’s conviction will not alter their protective duties. “Our security measures will proceed unchanged,” said Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams previously indicated that the city’s Department of Corrections and the Rikers Island prison are prepared to accommodate Trump if necessary. A Department of Corrections spokesperson noted that appropriate housing would be arranged for Trump if he were to be placed in their custody.
Although Trump’s sentencing is set for July, a series of lengthy appeals that could escalate to the Supreme Court are expected, potentially delaying any imprisonment until after the 2024 elections, where Trump is presumed to be the Republican nominee.
The introduction of the DISGRACED Act signifies a significant move to limit the privileges of former presidents convicted of serious crimes, reflecting a broader effort to address unprecedented legal and logistical issues arising from such scenarios.
