Natchez woman’s social media post on Trump shooting draws national criticism

Published 9:51 pm Saturday, July 13, 2024

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NATCHEZ — A Natchez woman who works for U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, finds herself the center of controversy for a Facebook post she made that seemed to encourage the shooter at the Trump rally Saturday.

Jacqueline Marsaw is Thompson’s case worker and field director in Adams, Amite, Franklin, and Wilkinson counties. Thompson, a Democrat, represents Mississippi’s Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives and is the former chairman of the House Jan. 6 Select Committee.

Former President Donald Trump was injured Saturday, and one attendee was killed and another person critically wounded when a shooter opened fire at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooter is also dead. Law enforcement officials are calling the shooting an assassination attempt.

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Marsaw made several posts soon after the shooting at the Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

“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,” Marsaw posted on her personal Facebook page.

Others quickly shared Marsaw’s post, including Russ Latino, president of Empower Mississippi and founder of the Magnolia Tribune Institute, a political news publication. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz also shared the post on X, calling it “Horrifying.”

Marsaw said she removed the post after being asked to do so by a manager on Thompson’s staff, whom she would not name.

“I got overwhelmed in the moment,” Marsaw said. “I am a diehard Democrat.” She said her post was meant for its comic value and not to be taken seriously.

Thompson issued a statement on X about the shooting shortly after it happened. “There is no room in American democracy for political violence. 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,” Thompson wrote.

Thompson was not available for comment Saturday night.