(PatriotNews.net) – The U.S. Secret Service has decided to end its protection for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democrat who switched to running as an Independent for president. This decision comes after Kennedy announced that he would suspend his campaign on Friday.
Kennedy had been asking for Secret Service protection for several months, especially after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Finally, he was granted protection. However, now that his campaign is on hold, the Secret Service is pulling back its protection, according to law enforcement sources.
On Friday, Kennedy said he was “suspending” his run for the White House but not completely ending it. He also endorsed President Trump in key battleground states while still remaining on the ballot in states that typically vote Democrat.
The Secret Service usually provides protection to presidents, vice presidents, their close family members, and top candidates running for president. When a candidate drops out, the Secret Service often reduces or completely ends their protection, which is what has happened to Kennedy.
Kennedy’s request for protection was heavily influenced by his family history, as both his father, Bobby Kennedy, and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, were assassinated. He cited 34 different threats and troubling incidents against him as reasons for needing the Secret Service’s help.
The issue of security became even more serious after the July 13 incident when President Trump was shot in the ear during a rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, also killed a former fire chief and injured two other people. This incident was seen as a major failure by the Secret Service, leading to a lot of criticism.
After the attempt on Trump’s life, there were reports that the Secret Service had denied requests to increase security for Trump over the past two years. This controversy deepened when Rep. Bennie Thompson introduced legislation that could strip Trump of his Secret Service protection if he is convicted, which some saw as a serious threat to his safety.
Ten days after the attempt on Trump, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following a difficult congressional hearing where she couldn’t answer key questions about the agency’s failures. As a result, several Secret Service officials involved in planning Trump’s rally were put on administrative duty.
