Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is one step closer to receiving Secret Service protection during her campaign.
A Congressional Advisory Committee, made up of the Speaker of the House, the House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, and one additional member, voted in favor of granting Haley protective privileges, the Associated Press reported. I cast my vote.
The recommendation is now being forwarded to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a final decision.
A person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that the Secret Service is already prepared to send a security team to protect Haley, a former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, if the request is granted. .
Haley is the only Republican challenger facing former President Trump for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. She has reported an increase in threats during her presidential campaign, and she will face Trump in a primary in her home state next week.
DHS declined to comment on the status of the request and told The Hill Candidate protection information Provided by the Secret Service.
The Secret Service is required to protect presidential and vice presidential candidates and their families for 120 days before the general election.
The DHS Secretary and a Congressional Advisory Committee are reviewing whether a candidate qualifies as a primary candidate and submitting appropriate documentation to the Federal Election Commission. It will also evaluate factors such as the threat to the candidate and whether the candidate has won 15% in national polls for more than 30 consecutive days.
DHS noted in its 2024 budget summary that requests for protection from candidates are coming in faster than before.
Both President Biden and President Trump have Secret Service protection during their campaigns.
Haley applied for protection earlier this month, citing “multiple issues”. She said she was the target of two swattings at her South Carolina home.
The Hill has reached out to Haley’s camp for comment on this development.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also requested Secret Service protection for the 2024 election, but was denied.
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