Biden admin denies RFK Jr. Secret Service protection for the third time during presidential campaign

This week the Department of Homeland Security again denied Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secret Service protection during his campaign. This was the third time the candidate, whose father and uncle were assassinated, was denied the protection offered to presidential candidates.

"Denied Secret Service again!" Kennedy wrote, adding "It’s not just about me. It’s another example of weaponization of government against Biden’s political opponents. They know that 30¢ of every campaign dollar goes to keeping me safe."

"Homeland Security gave no explanation for rejecting our application," Kennedy said in a follow-up post. "Law says all 'major candidates' get protection. I’m polling 22% (and 40% among young voters — beating both Biden and Trump). My opinion may be biased, but that seems pretty 'major' to me."

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the denial letter "I have consulted with an advisory committee composed of the Speaker of the House, the House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, and the Senate Sergeant at Arms," per 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," he said.

Secret Service protection is a resource provided to all major presidential candidates and was a program enacted after since Kennedy's father, Bobby Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968 campaigning for the presidency. 

After his first request was denied in July, Kennedy noted that his campaign request "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 who to provide protection for is left up to Mayorkas with the help of the Speaker of the House, House Minority Whip, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and "one additional member chosen by the committee." 

Former US National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump General Mike Flynn expressed outrage over the latest denial. "This is totally unacceptable and has to stop," he wrote on X.

"The whole reason major candidates get this security protection is because of the assassination of @RobertKennedyJr‘s 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 request…none!"

In June, Kennedy told Joe Rogan that he believed the government intelligence agencies killed his uncle John F. Kennedy because he wanted to "take the CIA and shatter it into 1,000 pieces." 

He noted that he would have to "be careful" of the danger they could pose to him should he win the election. "I don't live in fear of it. You know, at all, but I'm not stupid about it, and I take precautions," he said.