Until recently, granting Secret Service protection has been a non-partisan decision, with sitting presidents placing the interest of fair elections above their own self-interest. The government is required to grant presidential candidates protection at 120 days prior to the election. But many have received early protection.
In 2007, President George W. Bush granted early protection to then-Senator Obama at 18 months prior to the election. President Carter gave early protection to his political rival, Senator Ted Kennedy, at 400 days prior to the election. Candidates Trump and Biden both received early protection.
The Biden administration, with no explanation, recently denied Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secret Service protection for the fifth time. The stated criteria for protection include polling, having a national campaign in place, and heightened security threats.
Then there’s the Kennedy family history: RFK Jr.’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963. And RFK Jr.’s father, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated while running for president on June 5, 1968.
Since RFK Sr.’s assassination, major presidential candidates have routinely been given Secret Service protection. It is the cruelest irony that his own son would be denied the very same protection.
Rose Buckner, Brookfield