Two House members introduced bipartisan legislation Sunday to enhance Secret Service protection for former President Donald Trump, President Biden and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican, and Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat, proposed the bill in the wake of a gunman attempting Saturday to assassinate Mr. Trump during a Pennsylvania campaign rally.
“Last night’s attempted assassination of former President Trump was a dark moment in our nation’s history. As reports continue to emerge, it’s clear that more protection is needed for all major candidates for president,” the New York congressmen said in a joint statement.
“That’s why we’re planning on introducing bipartisan legislation providing President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. with enhanced Secret Service protection. Anything less would be a disservice to our democracy.”
Rep. Mike Waltz, Florida Republican, wrote on X hours after a gunman shot an AR-15 round that grazed the right ear of Mr. Trump, that he had “reliable sources telling me there have been repeated requests for stronger secret service protection for President Trump. Denied by Secretary Mayorkas.”
Top House Republican lawmakers and their committees, including Oversight and Homeland Security are gearing up investigations to look into claims that Mr. Trump was refused more robust Secret Service protection prior to Saturday’s rally.
A Secret Service official, though, denies that any member of Mr. Trump’s team was denied a request for more security.
“There’s an untrue assertion that a member of the former President’s team requested additional security resources & that those were rebuffed,” U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi posted on X.
“This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo.”
Mr. Kennedy has said he has been repeatedly denied Secret Service protection by the White House.
He has argued he should become a protectee of the Secret Service, given his family’s history — the 1968 assassination of his father, former Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and his uncle John F. Kennedy who was assassinated in 1963.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, on Saturday called on the White House to grant Mr. Kennedy’s request.
“I encourage the president to immediately provide secret service protection for Robert Kennedy Jr.,” Mr. Polis wrote on X.
The Secret Service is authorized to protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election.
As defined in the statute, the term “major presidential and vice presidential candidates” means those individuals identified as such by the secretary of Homeland Security after consultation with an advisory committee.
The Homeland Security secretary determines which candidates are in that “major” category in consultation with an advisory committee of House and Senate leadership.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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