The Secret Service ordered officials to ignore Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s request for security after it conducted an analysis of threats to the independent presidential candidate, newly released emails from the agency show.
In one of the 63 pages of mostly redacted emails, a top official concluded that “no response” to Kennedy or his worried private security team was needed, “nor should it.”
The candidate who threatens to pull enough votes away from President Joe Biden to help elect former President Donald Trump has been repeatedly denied protection from the Secret Service.
The new emails obtained by the legal watchdog Judicial Watch indicate that the decision to provide or deny protection is in the hands of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and congressional leaders, not the Secret Service.
The package included a document titled “Campaign 2024 — Candidate Protection.” The first sentence reads, “The Secret Service does not determine who qualifies for protection, nor is the Secret Service empowered to independently initiate candidate protection.”
The documents suggest the agency looked into the threats reported by Kennedy’s security firm, Gavin de Becker and Associates. That report was so long that it was difficult for the Secret Service to download.
The Secret Service responded with a five-page assessment that apparently dismissed the threat potential to Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy, slain when he ran for president in 1968, and nephew to former President John F. Kennedy, assassinated in 1963.
Judicial Watch highlighted a few key sentences in the emails:
— On May 17, 2023, an individual, whose name is redacted, from the protection company Gavin de Becker Associates, which Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. disclosed is providing him with protection, sends an email to officials in the Office of Protective Services with the subject “From [redacted] quick question and heads up.” The body of the message is redacted except for the greeting and closing.
— The message is forwarded to Deputy Assistant Director William Glady and other Secret Service officials whose names are redacted. Glady forwards the de Becker message to Assistant Director Michael Plati as a “FYSA [For Your Situational Awareness].” Plati replies, “No response is required to be given to this individual IMO [in my opinion].” Glady replies, “Agree.” Plati then follows up with, “Nor should it.” Glady responds, “All parties are aware.” Plati replies, “Thank you.”
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Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, said Kennedy was getting the runaround from the Biden team. And he called the outcome dangerous.
“These documents confirm the bureaucratic and political runaround the Biden administration went through to ultimately deny Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the requested Secret Service protection,” Fitton said in releasing the emails. “The Biden administration’s refusal to provide Secret Service protection to Mr. Kennedy is dangerous and vindictive. Congress would do well to follow up on these disturbing documents uncovered by Judicial Watch’s FOIA investigation and lawsuit.”
