In response to the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, bipartisan lawmakers are proposing legislation to bolster Secret Service protection for all major presidential candidates. Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) announced their plan to introduce a bill that would enhance security measures for President Joe Biden, Trump, and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The initiative follows a shocking incident at a Pennsylvania rally where Trump was shot in the ear by an assailant on a rooftop. The attack, which left one person dead and two others injured, has raised serious questions about the adequacy of current security protocols.
“Last night’s attempted assassination of former President Trump was a dark moment in our nation’s history,” Torres and Lawler said in a joint statement. “As reports continue to emerge, it’s clear that more protection is needed for all major candidates for president.
That’s why we’re planning on introducing bipartisan legislation providing President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. with enhanced Secret Service protection. Anything less would be a disservice to our democracy.”
The Secret Service’s handling of the situation has come under scrutiny. Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) has demanded detailed information from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Green cited reports that the DHS, which oversees the Secret Service, had rejected requests from Trump’s security team for increased protection.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi countered these claims, stating on X that assertions of rebuffed requests for additional security resources were “absolutely false.” He emphasized that the agency had, in fact, increased protective measures in response to Trump’s campaign activities.
RFK Jr., who has been vocal about his own safety concerns, has also faced denials for Secret Service protection. Given his family history of political assassinations, his calls for increased security have garnered significant attention.
As the country processes the implications of the attack on Trump, the proposed bill seeks to ensure that all presidential candidates receive the necessary protection to campaign safely. The bipartisan effort highlights the critical need to safeguard the democratic process by providing enhanced security for those running for the nation’s highest office.
