RFK Jr. Request for Protection Denied by Mayorkas

After the primary races are over, the presidential nominees for the general election are afforded protection from the Secret Service.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is running as an independent, has already requested that protection.

However, it was refused by DHS Secretary Mayorkas, and now RFK Jr. is speaking out about it.

Denied

Requests for approval for Secret Service protection for candidates now flow through the Department of Homeland Security.

This option was put in place by President Lyndon Johnson after the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

RFK Jr. recently requested that protection, but it was denied with no reason as to why.

Mayorkas responded to the request in a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle.

The letter stated, “On May 26, 2023, candidate for President Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. submitted a request to the Department of Homeland Security for United States Secret Service protection. In accordance with the authority set forth in Title 18, United States Code, Section 3056(a)(7), and in consultation with the Candidate Protection Advisory Committee, I decline to identify candidate Kennedy for United States Secret Service protection at this time.”

That letter was signed by Mayorkas himself.

Kennedy recently responded to the declination, stating, “Denied Secret Service again!

“It’s not just about me. It’s another example of weaponization of government against Biden’s political opponents.

“They know that 30¢ of every campaign dollar goes to keeping me safe.”

Kennedy added, “Homeland Security gave no explanation for rejecting our application. Law says all ‘major candidates’ get protection.

“I’m polling 22% (and 40% among young voters — beating both Biden and Trump). My opinion may be biased, but that seems pretty ‘major’ to me.”

Kennedy is clearly a threat to Joe Biden’s campaign more so than Trump’s, so there is already speculation that Biden may have had a hand in denying this request.

After all, if Kennedy gets Secret Service protection, he is then considered a serious candidate, something that Joe Biden would prefer not to present to voters before the general election.