Page 14 - HOH

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 5 March 2020

No major Dem candidates yet seek Secret Service protection

Associated Press didates, according to two former vice presidents does
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top- people familiar with the not last for life.
less demonstrators crashed matter who spoke to The Sanders, code-named "In-
a Bernie Sanders rally in Ne- Associated Press on condi- trepid," was granted Secret
vada two weeks ago. On tion of anonymity. The peo- Service protection in Febru-
Tuesday, two animal rights ple were not authorized to ary 2016. It ceased not long
activists rushed the stage publicly discuss the issue. after he ended his presi-
where Joe Biden was giv- The leading candidates in dential bid.
ing a victory speech after 2012 and 2016 all had Se- The process for assigning
a stunning primary triumph, cret Service protection at a security detail to a can-
and they were carried off, this point in those races. didate generally requires
protest signs flailing. Sanders, a Vermont sena- that campaigns initiate
Armed and seriously dan- tor, and Biden, a former the request for protection.
gerous threats these indi- vice president, emerged as The Secret Service does a
viduals were not. But the front runners following Tues- threat assessment and con-
breaches were concerning A protester at left, is held back by Biden adviser Symone Sand- day's primaries. sults with Homeland Secu-
enough to prompt an on- ers, wearing stripes, face unseen, and Jill Biden, second from The Secret Service pro- rity officials and a congres-
line outcry that the Demo- right, as Democratic presidential candidate former Vice Presi- tects, by statute, the presi- sional commission made up
dent Joe Biden stands, at right, during a primary election night
cratic presidential can- rally, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Los Angeles. dent and vice president of the majority and minority
didates be granted pro- Associated Press and their families, as well leaders of both chambers,
tection by the U.S. Secret as some other senior gov- plus another member.
Service. That demanded None of the Democratic contenders has formally ernment officials. It is also The ultimate decision on
was followed by a letter candidates is yet under the asked for it. A request gen- authorized to provide whether or not to provide
Wednesday from some protection of the Secret erally triggers the agency's protection to major party protection is made by the
House Democrats advo- Service, in part because assessment of whether to presidential candidates, an Department of Homeland
cating more urgent action. not one of the the major provide protection to can- authority granted after the Security.
assassination of Robert F. Biden could be provided a
Kennedy in 1968. temporary detail under the
Biden, code-named "Celt- law because of his status
ic," had Secret Service as a former vice president;
protection from the time that call is made at the dis-
he was selected as Barack cretion of the homeland
Obama's running mate security secretary.
through about six months The Sanders campaign
after his term as vice presi- says it does not comment
dent expired. Unlike presi- on security measures of
dents, the protection of any kind.q