Senator Ted Cruz claims that RFK Jr.’s protection is justified because of “exceptional circumstances.”
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas to offer answers about the Biden administration’s rejection of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s request for Secret Service protection.
According to internal Secret Service records released by government watchdog group Judicial Watch, the DHS determined in July that Secret Service security for Kennedy was “not warranted at this time,” despite many recorded threats. The average turnaround time for such a request is two weeks.
“The records also indicated that the Secret Service is aware that Mr. Kennedy has received increased media attention after accusing the Central Intelligence Agency of involvement in the assassination of his uncle, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and advocating for the release of the individual currently imprisoned for assassinating his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and speaking out against COVID-19 vaccines,” Cruz said in a letter to the editor on Tuesday.
Related Posts
Cruz wanted answers by Oct. 31 on the amount of time it took Kennedy to receive a response, how a denial of service was justified, and what information would be required to justify Secret Service protection if not for the threats Kennedy is purportedly receiving.
“How do you address the fact that previous major presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, then-Senator Barack Obama, and Senator Ted Kennedy, received Secret Service protection well more than 120 days before the general election, establishing a clear precedent for exceptions to the general rule as provided by law?” Was Senator Obama more vulnerable during his campaign than Mr. Kennedy is today?” Cruz also inquired.
An armed man was caught at one of his campaign events in Los Angeles shortly after his request was denied, and he was charged with carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and impersonating a Deputy United States Marshal.
Two weeks later, Secret Service records revealed credible threats against Kennedy, including worrying letters and threatening emails, raising fears about future assassination attempts based purely on his Kennedy membership.
According to Cruz, the Judicial Watch investigation uncovered troubling sentiments, including one individual expressing a wish to “discuss [their] sins” with Kennedy and warning of a potential “serious terrorist act” by a “madman.” Another person wrote abusive emails, threatening to “bury” Kennedy, hurt everyone, and make him “suffer.”
“Since my father’s assassination in 1968, candidates for president have been provided Secret Service protection,” Kennedy said in a July post on X. But not for me.”
Both Kennedy’s father, late Democratic New York senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and uncle, late President John F. Kennedy, were slain in the 1960s.
Last Monday, Kennedy announced his independent presidential campaign against President Biden.
In a statement to Fox News Digital following publication, DHS said, “DHS responds to congressional correspondence directly via official channels, and the Department will continue to respond appropriately to Congressional oversight.”
