Kennedy threatens legal action after 5th protection denial
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threatened to sue the Department of Homeland Security after being denied Secret Service protection for the fifth time.
In a March 29 letter posted to X, Kennedy’s attorney said the department was “ignoring the real risks” to the candidate, including an event attendee who carried two loaded handguns, and withholding protection because Kennedy is challenging President Joe Biden.
The Secret Service began protecting presidential and vice presidential candidates after the 1968 assassination of Kennedy’s father. Criteria for independent and third-party candidates include polling at 20% in the Real Clear Politics national average for 30 days, according to the Secret Service website. Kennedy was polling at around 11% Thursday.
The Homeland Security secretary also has “broad discretion” in determining which candidates qualify, the website says.