Reports: Secret Service prepared to fulfill protective mission even if Trump sent to prison

Though some Democrats have floated the notion of eliminating Secret Service protection for former President Donald Trump, in the aftermath of his recent conviction, the agency has weighed in on what would happen in the event a custodial sentence is imposed.

According to top officials, if Trump heads to lockup, the Secret Service is obligated to go with him, regardless of the logistical dilemmas such a scenario would undoubtedly pose, as Fox News reports.

Unprecedented prospects

With Trump having been found guilty on 34 felony counts, each of which could theoretically bring four years in prison, thoughts have turned to how the Secret Service agents charged with protecting the former president might navigate his incarceration.

In the wake of last week's verdict, Anthony Gugliemi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, issued a statement to Fox News Digital clarifying where things stand.

Gugliemi declared that the conviction “has no bearing on the manner in which the United States Secret Service carries out its protective mission.”

He continued, “Our security measures will proceed unchanged.”

That statement comes on the heels of recent remarks from New York City Eric Adams, who suggested that the Department of Corrections were prepared to handle any eventuality, including one in which Trump was sentenced to prison.

Adaptability emphasized

According to the Telegraph, prior to last week, federal agents had steered clear of hypothetical discussions about how a prison sentence might be handled.

A.T. Smith, a former deputy director at the Secret Service, reportedly told the outlet, “They didn't want to unfairly telegraph any information or make it look as if a plan was in place. Having said that, they will obviously probably now have some discussions about what if.”

Regardless of the circumstances in which Trump may find himself, Smith declared that the agency would never allow its “protective mission to in any way be flawed. They'll rise to the occasion, they will work with the counterparts that may become necessary depending upon the judge's decision...in order to accomplish their mission, which is the protection of the former president.”

Smith said that agents he has spoken to about the current situation have not revealed any particular emotions about it, adding, “They're all professionals, they understand that world events can change on a dime and they are ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the former president under the law.”

While such neutrality or even stoicism is a valuable trait in a Secret Service agent, should Judge Juan Marchan ultimately put Trump behind bars, it seems all but certain that millions of Americans will have no problem putting their feelings of disgust on full display.