Campaign

RFK Jr. on Haley’s potential secret service protection: ‘Double standards abound’

by Tara Suter - 02/16/24 7:45 PM ET

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his frustration about the situation surrounding GOP presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley possibly getting Secret Service protection Friday.

A congressional advisory committee featuring members including the House Speaker, House minority whip, Senate majority and minority leaders and one additional member has voted in favor of giving the former U.N. ambassador a protective detail. Haley confirmed that she applied for protection by the Secret Service earlier this month.

“While I’m happy she’ll be protected and publicly supported her request, double standards abound,” Kennedy said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter Friday.

“My campaign first requested Secret Service protection in May 2023 with a 63 page declaration. We still have a current request pending,” Kennedy continued. “My request is the first time in 55 years a candidate has ever been denied. The Biden administration is the sole outlier to turn down a request for Secret Service coverage.”

Kennedy also said that not giving him protection by the Secret Service “is a way to drain my campaign funds and stop the movement we’re building together.”

“They want us out of the race by any means necessary,” Kennedy continued in his post. “This is blatant election interference. Let me be clear: I have immense respect for the Secret Service. This corruption is coming from much higher up.”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will make the final decision on giving Haley Secret Service protection, but a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that the agency already has security teams dispatched to protect the former South Carolina Governor in the case that the request is granted.

“Unfortunately for the establishment and those who skulk around in back rooms, I’m not going anywhere,” Kennedy said. “Our movement is growing stronger and our coalition is building.”