Lawmakers' own security fears drive Secret Service push
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Rep. Mike Lawler at the U.S. Capitol on June 4, 2024. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
House Republican leadership is planning to hold a vote this week on a bill to change how the Secret Service protects presidential candidates following the second assassination attempt against former President Trump.
Why it matters: Members of Congress' own experiences facing growing threats and startling security breaches could facilitate rare bipartisan agreement around the measure.
Driving the news: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) both said Tuesday that the House will vote on a measure enhancing protection for Trump, Vice President Harris and future presidential candidates.
- The vote is expected to be on some version of a bipartisan bill that Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) introduced after the first assassination attempt against Trump in July.
- That measure would require the Secret Service to "apply the same standards for determining the number of agents required to protect Presidents, Vice Presidents, and major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates."
- Lawler told Axios that the vote is expected to be Friday.
What they're saying: "I feel both the president, presidential candidates and members of Congress – especially members of Congress – are catastrophically under-protected," Torres told Axios.
- Torres argued that "the assassination of a member of Congress is not a question of 'if,' it's a question of 'when.' We are living in an age of political violence."
- Said Lawler: "In each of our districts, there are unfortunately situations that arise where there are threats. ... Everybody across the political spectrum should recognize the importance of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of elected officials and their families."
State of play: Secret Service Director Ron Rowe said that immediately after Sunday's shooting, his agency "moved to increase assets to an already enhanced security posture" for Trump.
- "President Biden made it clear that he wanted the highest levels of protection for former President Trump and for Vice President Harris," Rowe said.
Zoom in: Some lawmakers have been advocating a similar overhaul for the Capitol Police's policies, including granting security details on the basis of lawmakers' threat profiles rather than just their leadership positions.
- With the rise of social media, politicians' public profiles – and the number of threats they receive – have become less tied to seniority.
- "We are in a new and different threat environment than we historically have been, and it's very important for us to update our practices for safety across the board according to how the world is changing," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who was subject to threats at her Seattle home in 2022, told Axios: "It's very hard to deny that we need protection for people that is beyond what has been provided in the past."
What to watch: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters there is "a conversation that is underway" about increasing funding for the Secret Service, and that "we've got to make sure that every possible protection is provided" to Harris, Trump and their running mates.
- But, asked about Lawler's and Torres' bill, Jeffries said President Biden "has made clear that every available resource is going to be made available to Donald Trump's campaign, and that's the right way to go."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.
