A Maine state lawmaker who was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service over a threatening online comment about President Trump has been removed from two legislative committees as punishment, the state’s House speaker announced Friday.
Democratic Rep. Scott Hamann has been kicked off the Health and Human Services Committee and the Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee, House Speaker Sara Gideon said, the Bangor Daily News reported.
“I hope this consequence sends a clear signal to all members of the House of Representatives that they are expected to conduct themselves with respect at all times and in all media,” Ms. Gideon said in a statement.
The punishment came three days after Mr. Hamann called President Trump a joke, a rapist, a racist and a liar in a lengthy Facebook rant that concluded with an apparent threat against the president.
“Trump is a half term president, at most, especially if I ever get within 10 feet of that p—,” Mr. Hamann wrote.
He apologized a day later, saying he shouldn’t have voiced his frustration by responding with the same “vile language currently surrounding politics.”
“This is not language I typically use, it does not reflect my personal values, and while misguided, it was intended to make a visceral point about the devolving political discourse in America,” Mr. Hamann said.
A representative of the U.S. Secret Service said Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into Mr. Hamann’s comments. Mr. Hamann said the Secret Service visited his home on Thursday, but determined his comments did not constitute a threat.
“On Thursday I met with the Secret Service at my home, and we had a good conversation,” he said in a statement. “Their determination at the end of the discussion was that my post was a satirical political rant and not a threat in any way. There is no investigation at this time. I am encouraged by their professional assessment that no threat was made or intended, since they recognized that the intent of my post was to satirize the extreme rhetoric that permeates our modern political discourse. I thank both of the Secret Service Agents for their exemplary professionalism, and for their service to our country.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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