The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has once again refused to provide Secret Service protection to independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., marking the third such denial.
Kennedy Jr., whose father and uncle were both victims of assassination, has been repeatedly denied the security typically afforded to presidential candidates.
"Denied Secret Service again!" Kennedy Jr. expressed on social media, adding, "Its not just about me. Its another example of weaponization of government against Bidens political opponents. They know that 30 of every campaign dollar goes to keeping me safe."
Kennedy Jr. further elaborated on the lack of explanation provided by the DHS for the rejection. "Homeland Security gave no explanation for rejecting our application," he stated. "Law says all 'major candidates' get protection. Im polling 22% (and 40% among young voters beating both Biden and Trump). My opinion may be biased, but that seems pretty 'major' to me."
The denial letter from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cited consultation with an advisory committee, which included the Speaker of the House, the House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, and the Senate Sergeant at Arms, according to Deseret News.
"Based on the facts and the recommendation of the advisory committee, I have determined that Secret Service protection for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not warranted at this time," Mayorkas stated.
The Secret Service protection program, which is extended to all major presidential candidates, was established following the assassination of Kennedy Jr.'s father, Bobby Kennedy, during his 1968 presidential campaign.
Kennedy Jr. pointed out that his initial request for protection, which was denied in July, "included a 67-page report from the world's leading protection firm, detailing unique and well-established security and safety risks aside from commonplace death threats."
The final decision on protection provision lies with Mayorkas, in consultation with the Speaker of the House, House Minority Whip, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and an additional committee-chosen member.
General Mike Flynn, former US National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, expressed his indignation over the latest denial. "This is totally unacceptable and has to stop," he wrote. "The whole reason major candidates get this security protection is because of the assassination of @RobertKennedyJrs father, RFKSr," Flynn added. "The corruption in our government has and will get others killed and it has to stop and stop NOW!!! There is simply no good excuse for denying this requestnone!"
In a June interview with Joe Rogan, Kennedy Jr. expressed his belief that government intelligence agencies were responsible for his uncle John F. Kennedy's assassination due to his intention to "take the CIA and shatter it into 1,000 pieces." He acknowledged the potential danger he could face if he won the election, stating, "I don't live in fear of it. You know, at all, but I'm not stupid about it, and I take precautions."
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