Commenters on RFK Jr.'s post pointed out that he is actually requesting too early for the protection services. According to the United States Secret Service website, protection is only afforded to "major candidates" within a period of 120 days from the general election. At the time of writing, it is still 400-plus days until the presidential polls. However, software engineer and citizen journalist @ChiefNerd created a separate thread enumerating the reasons why RFK Jr. should still be provided the requested protection. According to him, following the assassination of presidential nominee and RFK Jr.'s father Sen. Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968, the Secret Service began protecting leading presidential nominees as well as their spouses. "Just days after the assassination, the Secret Service became responsible for the safety of five candidates, and by the end of the 1968 campaign, 12 candidates were protected by the Secret Service. The new responsibility was undertaken to maintain the integrity of the democratic process," @ChiefNerd wrote. He also pointed out that the evolution of the protective detail is based upon actual threats and acts of aggression against both the highest public office in the land and those who seek the position. The citizen journalist proceeded to prove precedents for candidates receiving protection more than 120 days ahead of the general election. He said former President Donald Trump and Republican presidential primary candidate Ben Carson were provided Secret Service protection 365 days before the 2016 elections. Ex-President Barack Obama received it 551 days before the 2008 polls. Also, former Senator John McCain was offered the service 551 days before election day, which he declined in 2007. Meanwhile, ex-Senator Ted Kennedy was provided protection 410 days before Election Day in 1980. "RFK Jr. is within the time range of the precedent set by the candidates above and is arguably under even greater threat given the Kennedy family's tragic history of assassinations," @ChiefNerd wrote.Since the assassination of my father in 1968, candidates for president are provided Secret Service protection. But not me.
Typical turnaround time for pro forma protection requests from presidential candidates is 14-days. After 88-days of no response and after several… — Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) July 28, 2023
Democrats criminalize political dissent to preempt potential 2024 election challengers
By Belle Carter // Share