WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman August Pfluger’s Counter Secretary Negligence in Protecting Election Runners (Counter SNIPER) Act calls for rigor, transparency, and timeliness in the Secretary of Homeland Security’s decision-making process for granting new or augmented United States Secret Service (USSS) protection to presidential and vice presidential candidates. It will also require Secret Service Directors to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate — eliminating political bias and partiality and ensuring bipartisan Senate vetting for this important post.
“In today’s highly divisive political climate, the Homeland Security Secretary owes all presidential candidates fair, apolitical, timely, and transparent consideration of USSS protection,” Pfluger said in a news release. “Our country was millimeters away from a presidential assassination. We must provide adequate security for all presidential candidates — no matter their party affiliation. I am also calling for the Secret Service Director to be a Senate-confirmed position to help ensure candidates for this position are capable and apolitical.”
Pfluger’s Counter SNIPER Act:
- Requires Secretary DHS to provide justification within 14 days of receiving a request for new or augmented USSS protection for presidential or vice-presidential candidates, including what criteria the candidate did not meet.
- Allows candidates to provide rebuttals with supporting information, which the Secretary must respond to within 14 days, including what criteria the candidate did not meet.
- Calls for USSS Director to be a Senate-confirmed position.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declined three requests from Robert F. Kennedy for USSS protection, most recently in December 2023. Secretary Mayorkas provided no justification for denials and ignored requests for months. Kennedy faced numerous credible threats including the arrest of an armed man impersonating a U.S. Marshall at a campaign event. Historical exceptions for extending USSS protections beyond front runners include Ben Carson, Bernie Sanders (2016); Herman Caine, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich (2012); Pat Robertson and Jesse Jackson (1988).
