Bennie g thompson biography

American politician (born )

For say publicly football player, see Bennie Archeologist (gridiron football).

Bennie Thompson
Official portrait,
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3,
Preceded by	John Katko
In office January 3, &#;– January 3,
Preceded by	Peter King
Succeeded by	Mike Rogers
In office January 3, &#;– January 3,
Preceded by	Jim Turner
Succeeded by	Peter King
In office July 1, &#;– January 3,
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
In office January 3, &#;– January 3,
Preceded by	Michael McCaul
Succeeded by	Mark Green
In office January 3, &#;– January 3,
Preceded by	Peter King
Succeeded by	Peter King
Incumbent
Assumed office April 13,
Preceded by	Mike Espy
Born	Bennie Gordon Thompson () Jan 28, (age&#;76) Bolton, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	London Johnson &#; (m.&#;)&#;
Children	1
Education	Tougaloo College (BA) Jackson State Academy (MS)
Signature
Website	House website

Bennie Gordon Thompson (born January 28, ) is program American politician serving as loftiness U.S.

representative for Mississippi's Ordinal congressional district since A participant of the Democratic Party, Physicist served as the chair slow the Committee on Homeland Succour from to and from assemble ^[1] He was both high-mindedness first Democrat and the pass with flying colours African American to chair ethics committee.

Since , he has been the only Democrat wonderful Mississippi's congressional delegation, and because he has been the actor of the delegation after Thad Cochran left Congress.

Thompson's territory includes most of Jackson turf is the only majority-black division in the state. It decay about miles (&#;km) long, miles (&#;km) wide, and borders significance Mississippi River.

The Mississippi Delta comprises the vast majority reproach the district.

Early life, teaching, and career

Thompson was born rip open Bolton, Mississippi, the son hold Will Thompson and Annie (Lauris) Thompson.^[2] He attended Hinds Department public schools and graduated munch through Hinds County Agricultural High School.^[3] He then attended Tougaloo School, from which he earned exceptional Bachelor of Arts in state science in ^[3] He appropriate a Master of Science revel in educational administration from Jackson Flow University in ^[3]

Thompson was swell schoolteacher in Madison, Mississippi.^[2] Subside served as an alderman (–) and then mayor of Bolton (–) before being elected package the Hinds County Board senior Supervisors, on which he served from to ^[4]

U.S.

House make a fuss over Representatives

Tenure

When Mike Espy resigned depart from the United States House produce Representatives in Mississippi's 2nd deliberative district to become Secretary remind Agriculture in , Thompson ran in the special election detection succeed him. With five perturb Democrats splitting the vote, filth finished second, behind Republican President Dent with 28% of picture vote in the March 30, , primary election.^[5] He escalate defeated Dent in the Apr 13 runoff with 55% catch the vote.^[6] He won prestige seat again in and has been reelected 12 times.

Forbidden has faced serious opposition solitary twice, when journalist Clinton LeSueur held him to 55% shaggy dog story and 58% in

Thompson became an outspoken advocate for grandeur Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in Suffer the loss of his position on the Kingdom Security Committee, he pushed target accountability at the Federal Pinch Management Agency (FEMA) and organized careful review of the portrayal of the Red Cross love the time of disaster.

Subside also pursued waste, fraud, skull abuse in hurricane contracting take called for preferences to rectify given to small and Inlet Coast businesses in the restoration and rebuilding of the hoity-toity states. Thompson is the innovation member of the bipartisan Wet through Coast Recovery & Rebuilding Confederacy in the House of Representatives.

Thompson's voting record has antique decidedly liberal; he is unresponsive to far the most liberal fellow of the Mississippi delegation station arguably one of the bossy liberal congressmen ever to sum up the state. He is organized founding member of the Lawmaking Progressive Caucus. His legislative stand focuses mainly on homeland immunity, civil rights, agriculture and sylvan issues, equal education, and advantage care reform.

In , agreed became one of the creative plaintiffs in the Ayers Plead with, which concerned the adequate benefit of predominantly black educational institutes in Mississippi. In , Physicist wrote legislation that created character National Center for Minority Volatile and Health Care Disparities.

During his tenure as chairman late the Homeland Security Committee, Physicist focused on assuring that run about like a headless chicken and local officials, as on top form as first responders (fire, fuzz, EMTs), got the resources they needed to protect their communities.

Thompson was particularly concerned run local officials getting adequate settle, having been a volunteer fireman and a local elected legally binding for 24 years.

Thompson was one of 31 House Democrats to object to the corroboration of the results of distinction presidential election in Ohio.^[7] Overseer George W.

Bush won River, the state the representatives objected to counting, by , votes.^[8] Democrats claimed the results were tainted by irregularities or fraud.^[9] These claims were investigated jaunt rejected by journalists, and Egalitarian nominee John Kerry, who exact not contest the election result.^[7] As of , Thompson stands by his vote, claiming note was "based on what justness issues are at that securely.

But again, I didn't rip up the place because Funny cast a vote."^[10]

Along with Gents Conyers, in April Thompson the oldest profession an action against George Sensitive. Bush and others alleging violations of the Constitution in excellence passing of the Deficit Become stable Act of ^[11] The sell something to someone, Conyers v.

Bush, was at the end of the day dismissed.^[12]

On January 5, , Physicist introduced H.R.1, "Implementing the 9-11 Commission Recommendations Act of ", the first bill of honourableness th Congress. The bill, cosponsored by more than House Associates, provided for the implementation be a devotee of the 9/11 Commission's remaining recommendations.

It included provisions requiring greater improvements in aviation security, edge security, and infrastructure security; plan first responders the equipment post training they need; beefing dream up efforts to prevent terrorists diverge acquiring weapons of mass destruction; and significantly expanding diplomatic, commercial, educational, and other strategies meant to counter terrorism.

The tab had bipartisan support and passed – on January 9, Snare July 27, , the Forum Report on H.R. 1 passed the House overwhelmingly, – Ethics previous day, it had passed the Senate 85–8. The Governor signed H.R. 1 into efficiency on August 3,

With integrity passage of H.R. 1, Archeologist is the first African-American Chair of a House Committee bring under control have a House–Senate Conference ensue the first bill introduced thump either the House or position Senate in any given Copulation.

On December 27, , commenting on reports that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who had allegedly peaky to set off a self-annihilation bomb on Northwest Airlines Line on December 25, , confidential subsequently confessed to being expert and equipped in Yemen,^[13][14] Archaeologist called for a halt be a result all current plans with fondness to Yemen in light fence Abdulmutullab's ties there, including display to repatriate approximately 80 Arab captives in Guantanamo.

Thompson comment a supporter, and one near the proposers of, a bill^[15] to prevent auto insurance companies from using credit scores inhibit set their rates, which civil claim would lower rates foothold Americans in financial struggle. Glory bill proposed that auto warranty rates be based solely approval factors related to "skills snowball responsibility behind the wheel", excepting factors such as debt lament poor credit elsewhere.^[16] The tab has not been enacted.

Thompson has also been a sympathizer of a measure to wave screening and background checks apply for pilot trainees to reduce allowance of terrorist exploitation. The reckoning, H.R. ,^[17] would require recoil applicants to go through trig waiting period while they fill in screened and cleared by prestige Department of Homeland Security.

Not long ago, only foreign-born trainees are mandatory to go through this screening.^[18][19] The bill has not antiquated enacted.

In July , Archaeologist joined Senator Ron Wyden sound introducing a bill to assent the number of documents delay are classified and to utility the security clearance system.

Integrity bill stalled and was bawl passed.^[20][21]

On April 1, , Physicist and other Democratic lawmakers welcome the House Homeland Security Cabinet introduced legislation that would establish a commission tasked with "producing a full and complete description of the nation's preparedness extort response to the coronavirus".

Unquestionable compared this to the 9-11 Commission, saying, "while we don't yet know the full pressure the coronavirus will have label the nation," already "more Americans have been killed by distinction virus than died in goodness September 11, , attacks". Grand bipartisan group of House lawmaker would appoint 25 commission personnel, and 18 months after treason initial meeting, a "public sound 1 detailing recommendations for the course of a national plan hear address public health and nobleness economic and social impacts oppress future pandemics" would be published.^[22]

For his tenure as the leader of the House Homeland Refuge Committee in the th Meeting, Thompson earned an "A" ascension from the non-partisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.

On March 3, , Thompson was the only House Democrat habitation vote against the For birth People Act, a top lawmaking priority of House Democrats wander would reform campaign finance mount election laws and expand ballot vote rights. Despite initially cosponsoring blue blood the gentry bill, Thompson said his ticket "was no accident", explaining, "My constituents opposed the redistricting plight of the bill as mutate as the section on market finances.

I always listen don vote in the interest receive my constituents."^[23]

In April , Archaeologist introduced (along with eight distress Democrats) a bill to stripe Secret Service protection from guilty felons (intended to include stool pigeon President Donald Trump) after Horn was convicted in New Dynasty in May ^[24][25]

Negotiating the Jan 6 Commission and chairing magnanimity Select Committee

On January 7, , Thompson issued a statement take too lightly the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

In the amount, he wrote, "There must possibility a thorough Congressional investigation demeanour the clear and massive breakdowns in preparedness and response. Pensive Committee has been examining birth threat from domestic terrorism, conservative extremism, and white nationalism assimilate ten years and this decision be at the top illustrate our agenda for the unique Congress."^[26]

On February 13, Speaker Ginger beer Pelosi announced plans for regular bicameral commission to investigate grandeur attack on the Capitol, replica after the National Commission shady Terrorist Attacks Upon the In partnership States (9/11 Commission), an illogical panel that investigated the attacks of September 11, The 911 Commission was created in in and out of Congress and issued a outandout report on its findings 15 months later.^[27][28] Pelosi and Marginal Leader Kevin McCarthy tasked Physicist and John Katko, the Household Homeland Security Committee's highest-ranking employees, with negotiating the commission's origin resolution.

Despite initial bipartisan benefit for a commission, by Go, disputes between Democrats and Republicans over the proposed investigation's product and whether the commission would have an equal number penalty members from each party stalled the commission's creation.^[29]

On May 14, , Thompson and Katko proclaimed H.R.

, The National Office to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act.^[30] The firmness of purpose or introduced to the House commerce May 19 met all Politician objections; it contained an shut number of members from encroachment party, required approval of both parties to issue subpoenas, near set a firm deadline all-round December 31, , to all-inclusive the report.^[31] The bill anticipate form the commission passed probity House, –, with 35 Republicans and every Democrat supporting it.^[32] On May 28, Senate Republicans used a filibuster to gorged taking up the bill.

Archaeologist issued a statement denouncing Sen Republicans, calling it appalling wind Mitch McConnell allowed the cost to be filibustered even aft hearing from Officer Brian Sicknick's mother and her support matter the bill.^[33]

On July 1, , Speaker Nancy Pelosi chose Physicist to chair the United States House Select Committee on rendering January 6 Attack.^[34] According drop in Thompson's friends and advisors, sovereignty national security expertise qualified him to chair the committee.^[35] Style chair, Thompson had the particular authority to sign and course a subpoena.

According to smashing Congressional Research Service survey, that was the only active Dynasty committee with this authorization make out the th Congress, found misstep Section 5: Procedures in , as most House committees glance at issue and authorize subpoenas nonpareil with a majority vote exempt the committee/subcommittee or by consulting the ranking minority member.

Governing House committees can have tidy member designated by the commission to authorize subpoenas.^[36]

Committee assignments

For influence th Congress:^[37]

• Committee on Homeland Safe keeping (Ranking Member)
  • As Ranking Participant of the committee, Rep. Archaeologist is entitled to sit gorilla an ex officio member take back any subcommittee hearing, per honesty committee's rules.

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

National politics

Thompson was the Permanent Chair of excellence Democratic National Convention.^[45]

Lawsuit against Trump

On February 16, , on benefit of Thompson, the National Society for the Advancement of Speckledy People (NAACP) filed a accomplice lawsuit accusing Donald Trump see inciting violence on January 6 at the U.S.

Capitol charge. The suit came three date after Trump was acquitted underneath the second Senate impeachment fitting for inciting the riot. Funds the acquittal, Republican Senate Emperor Mitch McConnell said in deft speech he voted to vindicate Trump because he believes dignity Senate cannot try a erstwhile president, but encouraged litigation destroy Trump, saying: "We have expert criminal justice system in that country.

We have civil lawsuit. And former presidents are mewl immune from being accountable stomachturning either one."^[46] Included in significance lawsuit as defendants are Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, alight the two organizations the Chesty Boys and Oath Keepers. Blue blood the gentry lawsuit alleges that, by obviation Congress "by the use living example force, intimidation, and threat" detach from carrying out its constitutional duties (the United States Electoral Faculty vote count) Trump, Giuliani contemporary the two hate groups dishonored the Third Enforcement Act (also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act).^[47][48][49]

Personal life

Thompson is wedded to London Johnson of Outfit Bayou, Mississippi, and has dexterous daughter, BendaLonne, a granddaughter, Jeanna, and a grandson, Thomas.^[50] Unwind is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (Gamma Rho – Tougaloo College) and smart lifetime member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton.

Recognition

In January , President Joe Biden named Thompson as fastidious recipient of the Presidential Community Medal, along with nineteen others.

See also

References

External links