The guardianship of the Secret Service, once assigned to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to conclude, as sources familiar with law-enforcement have confirmed. The decision was a consequence of Kennedy’s recent pause on his pursuit of the presidency. Earlier, President Biden, at 81, ordered the security agency to oversee Kennedy’s safety following an unsuccessful plot targeting the former President Donald Trump who is now 78.
Kennedy, aged 70, had been advocating both in public and in private for Secret Service cover, alleging multiple safety concerns. There appeared to be a hint that political agendas might have been a roadblock in the granting of the necessary security. The pursuit for this protection by Kennedy was not of recent making but spanned several months.
Kennedy’s legal advisors reported evidence of more than thirty threats and worrying messages that conveyed potential danger towards him, as recorded in Newsweek. However, the situation took a turn when RFK Jr., a former independent candidate for America’s highest office, declared a pause in his campaign. While he clarified that he was ‘suspending’ and not completely aborting his run for the presidency, this decision marked his effective exit from the political race.
Following this announcement, the environmental law specialist made public his strategy to remove his name from the voting list in approximately ten key swing states while expressing his support for Trump. This unprecedented move was made evident at a public gathering in Arizona, where the two shared the stage. Kennedy also shed light on his decision to retain his candidacy in less contested states, keeping the door open for possible future collaborations with Trump.
The Secret Service is known for its safeguarding role of prominent individuals in the American society. This esteemed group includes the incumbent president, vice president, their immediate family, past presidents, visiting dignitaries, descendants of ex-presidents until 16 years of age, former first ladies, and high-ranking contenders in the presidential race.
In a routine scenario, when a candidate relinquishes his run for the presidency, the Secret Service invariably downscales the protection detail, if not dismisses it completely. Hence, this move, in the context of Kennedy’s case, aligns with their operational protocol.
However, the Secret Service’s reputation took a hit following the failed assassination attempt on Trump during his July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The assailant managed to land a bullet, grazing Trump’s right ear. The incident put the efficacy of the security agency into serious question.
The arresting of the suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, only happened after an audacious crawl across a shed roof that led him perilously close to President Trump—a dismal 130 yards away. The incident claimed the life of firefighter Corey Comperatore, aged 50, while leaving two attendees, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, severely wounded.
In the aftermath of this public safety breach, Kimberly Cheatle, director of the Secret Service, was forced to tender her resignation amidst mounting political pressure. The level of scrutiny even percolated down to at least five key officials at the security agency, who were relegated to administrative responsibilities, thereby barring them from participating in any operational planning.
As a result of this security lapse, several investigations have been launched to shed light on the events that transpired on the 13th of July. These inquiries involve a wide range of entities, including a newly selected bipartisan House task force, the FBI, and the Inspector General’s office under the Department of Homeland Security.
Currently, both the Secret Service and the Kennedy campaign haven’t replied to the Post’s requests for comments. The incident underscores the importance of proper security measures for high-ranking individuals involved in the political sphere and reminds us that no detail is too small to overlook in the mission to guarantee their safety.