Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been denied Secret Service protection for a fifth time. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said it is not warranted at this time.
Mayorkas said his decision was based on the recommendation of the advisory committee. Kennedy has been trying for a year to get Secret Service protection. His attorney said the decision is politically motivated.
Mr. Kennedy‘s attorney, Aaron Siri, shot back at the letter a day later, saying the repeated denials are “capricious, an abuse of discretion and clearly politically motivated.”
Mr. Siri pointed out that Secret Service protection was first expanded to presidential candidates because of the assassination of Mr. Kennedy‘s father in 1968 while he was running for president. Since then, 32 presidential candidates have received protection, the lawyer wrote.
A congressional advisory committee weighs in on the decision to provide Secret Service protection to presidential candidates. The members of this committee now are House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Sergeant at Arms Karen Gibson.
According to the Secret Service website, candidates can receive protection after they publicly announce their candidacy, face “general or specific threats,” and poll at 20% or above in the Real Clear Politics national average for at least a month for independent and third-party candidates.
