Secret Service…please call….

Secret Service…please call….

Photo credit: Courtesy of Pam Kessler

The Secret Service is running out of cash because of President Trump’s large family and frequent trips to his properties, according to USA Today.

We caught up with Ron Kessler who weighed in on this situation.

“The issue of extra costs for President Trump is a little overblown. The Secret Service amended its statement to say that the issue of extra costs ‘is not one that can be attributed to the current administration’s protection requirements, but rather has been an ongoing issue for nearly a decade due to an overall increase in operational tempo.’It’s true that Trump has a large family that requires protection. Dick Cheney had two daughters and two grand kids who were under protection, but Trump has five children plus in many cases spouses and their children.  Agents who protect Trump and his family travel with them, so travel does not necessarily increase protection costs to an appreciable degree. Whether you like Trump or not, the last thing we need is an assassination. Any extra costs are trivial compared with the consequences to the nation of an assassination, nullifying democracy.”

Below is an interview on the subject first posted in October of 2015:

“He’s entitled to it. It’s long over due. I think he should have requested it in August when the crowds started blooming,”  best-selling author of The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents Ronald Kessler told Hollywood on the Potomac. Kessler is referring to the recent filing request by Presidential candidate Donald Trump for Secret Service protection.  “He has become even more controversial. The typical assassin will go after a President or candidate who generates strong emotions and controversy. I think it’s long overdue.”

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Kessler shown here outside the replica of a White House guard booth is at the Secret Service training center in Laurel, Md.   Photo credit: Pam Kessler

Ironically, “The Secret Service DOES NOT determine who qualifies for protection, nor is the Secret Service empowered to independently initiate candidate protection, according to their official website.  The way it works is this: “Protection is authorized by the DHS Secretary after consultation with the Congressional Advisory Committee. The Congressional Advisory Committee includes: Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and one additional member selected by the others

Criteria have been established to assist the DHS Secretary and the advisory committee in their decision making (as of 2008). Candidates must:

  • Be publically announced
  • Have some degree of prominence as shown by opinion polls
  • Be actively campaigning and entered in at least 10 state primaries
  • Be seeking the nomination of a qualified party
  • Have qualified for matching funds in the amount of at least $100,000
  • Have received contributions totaling $10 million

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Donald Trump, Pam and Ron Kessler

Although the author is friends with Trump, he wasn’t called to offer advice.”I’ve been friends with him ever since Pam and I flew down with him on his Boeing 727-100, since upgraded to a Boeing 757, almost twenty years ago for my book on Palm Beach: The Season: The Secret Life of Palm Beach and America’s Richest Society. We spent the weekend with him at Mar-a-Lago. Ever since we’ve been in touch with him and we see him in Palm Beach. I do talk to him on the phone periodically. In terms of advice, I think that anybody who thinks they’re actually going to give Donald advice is crazy. I think that Donald marches to the beat of his own drummer. I’ve interviewed his people. I really have a good idea of what he’s all about; that is, behind the scenes. He’s very savvy. He’s very reasonable. He’s very meticulous, which is just the opposite of the provocative comments that he makes on TV. “

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The Department of Homeland Security has received the official request. They have also received one from Presidential Candidate Ben Carson.  “He also deserves one,” said Kessler, “especially after he said ‘A Muslim should not be president of the US.’ even though he tried to walk that back. Certainly it would have generated a lot of threats. In addition, he would generate threats that are racial in nature, just as that occurred with Obama before he got Secret Service protection. These were threats from real racists and were not politically connected people. All of that was of concern. The reason you can’t rely on personal protection, which is what Donald has had, is there is no comparison between what the Secret Service offers and what private protection can offer. Remember that Robert F. Kennedy had personal security protection and he was assassinated. That’s what led to Congress providing Secret Service protection for candidates who are viable.  Some examples of the difference, Secret Service would screen spectators with magnetometers or metal detectors for weapons. Secret Service can use sirens in case of emergency. They have counter sniper and counter assault teams with heavy weapons, when necessary. They are in instant communication with the FBI and the CIA to pick up threats. Their training is superb in taking immediate action in case there is an attack. Really to rely on private protection is to take a tremendous risk.”

Secret Service

According to Secret Service.gov, a candidate and nominee protection was expanded to include major candidates for President and Vice President in 1968:

  • Major candidates and their spouses began receiving protection after the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968. PL-90-331 was passed June 6, 1968. (Language since adopted into 3056).
  • Prior to this event, candidates and their families did not receive Secret Service protection
  • Protection of a candidate/nominee is designed to maintain the integrity of the democratic process and continuity of government

“Obama requested it back in May of 2007.” Kessler added.  “He was the earliest to ever get Secret Service protection as a presidential candidate. He was getting threats. Romney was getting one threat a day and he had private protection for about four months headed by a former Secret Service agent who told Romney he could no longer assure his safety. He recommended that Romney fire his own private security firm and get Secret Service protection – which is what he did. That’s the way it plays out. Now Hillary is going to get increased protection as well. She has had it as a First Lady, but now she’s going to get more protection as a leading presidential candidate. 

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Donald, Barron and Melania Trump with Ron Kessler  Photo credit: Pam Kessler

As for also Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders?  “If he requested it, they probably would provide it. It’s a very complex process. There’s a lot of subjectivity involved.”

As for the cost to tax payers, “it’s about 38K a day, per candidate for expenses, including travel expenses. The agents salaries are static. For example, in the case of Donald, he would get probably fifteen agents.”

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