The Secret Service was called in to formally investigate comedian Shane Gillis after he joked that Trump would be the “funniest president to ever get shot.”
They took the joke seriously and investigated the matter despite the fact that it was intended as part of a comedy routine and not as a direct jab at former President Trump.
Gillis has been praised for his impressions of Trump. He even posed for a photo with the former presidents at a UFC event in Las Vegas earlier this year.
The comedian originally made the joke during an appearance in 2019. Gillis, who is a frequent guest on mega podcaster Joe Rogan, caught the attention of the Secret Service and didn't seem to have a sense of humor about it.
(Video Credit: Shane Gillis)
The investigation into Gillis arose when the messenger obtained previously undisclosed government records about the incident through a Freedom of Information Act request.
“Gillis, 36, has been making headlines thanks to a new Netflix special. The murder joke came during his first stand-up show immediately after he was hired and fired from Saturday Night Live after the online backlash in 2019 for a slew of racist and homophobic slurs Gillis made on his podcast Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast,” Messenger reported.
The comedian cracked the joke about the former president at The Stand NYC comedy club.
“I will say this: Of all the presidents I've lived through, Trump would definitely be the most fun to see shot,” Gillis said in 2019. “How, no doubt, it would be fun. I'm not asking for it; I don't want that happen, but it would be fun to watch. He'd be on stage talking shit, and the shooter would come up to him and he'd say, 'Sit down.' He'd definitely make a funny noise when he got hit. … It would be fun.”
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Dave Chappelle invites canceled comedian on stage to joke about Trump and Biden
SHANE GILLIS: “I think Biden is the first president you can assassinate.” pic.twitter.com/om38N0T7k6
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 30, 2023
After his performance, Gillis wrote to X: “I'm a comedian who pushes the boundaries. Sometimes I miss it. My intention is never to hurt anyone, but I'm trying to be the best comedian I can be, and sometimes, that requires risks.”
It wasn't the only time he told the joke. In fact, Gillis has said so repeatedly since then.
He said this in 2021 during a special taping in Austin, Texas. During that set, he also took a jab at President Biden. Gillis hinted that he was the first president someone could punch out because of his age and frail condition. Interestingly, this did not attract the attention of the Secret Service according to The Messenger.
According to the documents, after Gillis told Trump's joke in 2019, a Secret Service protective intelligence investigation specialist flagged it. The Messenger noted that the specialist sent an email with the subject line: “Discovery of a threatening statement from comedian Shane Gillis.”
“The Secret Service employee wrote that they found Gillis' joke while doing routine open-source intelligence research and found that several media outlets had reported on the joke and his comedy routine. In the files is a screenshot of a September 2019 article from The Washington Times that includes Gillis' photograph,” the outlet added.
Shane Gillis the night Trump announced he killed the IS leader. His Trump is more Trump than Trump
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) November 6, 2023
“In the records, the Secret Service writes that Gillis was not interviewed when he made 'inappropriate statements toward POTUS,' and that the information had not been submitted to the US Attorney's office for possible charges,” made the whole incident quite moot.
However, during the investigation, the Secret Service pulled his social security number, criminal history, last known phone number and address, and vehicle information. This is all pretty standard when the Secret Service or almost any other government agency is monitoring you. Gillis was also screened through three internal databases for reports of past threats or criminal history. Nothing came up.
“The Secret Service routinely investigates actual or perceived threats against the president. Under US law, making 'knowingly and willfully' 'any threat to take life, kidnap or inflict bodily harm' against the president or others in the line of presidential succession is a federal crime. If convicted, individuals could be fined or imprisoned for up to five years, or both,” The Messenger wrote.
The Secret Service responded to inquiries about Gillis almost exactly as you'd expect.
“The Secret Service is aware of the comments made by Mr. Gillis and, as a matter of practice, we do not comment on issues related to protective intelligence. We can say, however, that the Secret Service investigates all threats involving our proteges,” Secret Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Rosanna Donaghey told The Messenger in an interview.
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Terresa Monroe-Hamilton is a constitutional conservative who researches and writes extensively on politics and current affairs.
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