After US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s assassination attempt, the focus of the election campaign is on the security arrangement of former presidents, in this case, the Secret Service.
The Secret Service said shortly after the shooting that it has begun an investigation and briefed Democratic President Joe Biden, Trump’s rival in the November 15 election, though the agency did not respond to additional requests for comment regarding its protocols.
Trump’s campaign said the presumptive GOP nominee was doing “fine” after the shooting, which he said pierced the upper part of his right ear.
The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whose department oversees the Secret Service, said officials were engaged with the Joe Biden and Trump campaigns and “taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”
What is Secret Service?
The United States Secret Service was founded in 1865 as a branch of US Treasury Department. It was originally created to combat the counterfeiting of US currency — a serious problem at the time. In fact, following the Civil War, it was estimated that one-third to one-half of the currency in circulation was counterfeit.
In 1901, following the assassination of President William McKinley in Buffalo, New York, the Secret Service was first tasked with its second mission to protect the president.
Today, the Secret Service’s mission is to protect the president, vice president and others; and investigate into crimes against the financial infrastructure of the United States.
Who Does Secret Service Protect?
In 1958, the Former Presidents Act was passed, ensuring lifetime protection for former presidents, their spouses, and children up to age 15, with protections for spouses ending upon remarriage.
While standard procedure ends protection for adult children of presidents once their parent leaves office, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each authorised extended Secret Service coverage for their children through specific directives, as reported by CBS News.
Which Candidates Do Secret Service Protect?
Major presidential and vice-presidential candidates and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election. As defined in statute, the term “major presidential and vice-presidential candidates” means those individuals identified as such by the Secretary of Homeland Security after consultation with an advisory committee.
The Secretary of the Homeland Security determines who qualifies as a major candidate and when such protection should begin under the authority of Title 18, United States Code, Section 3056.
What are the Powers of Secret Service Agents?
They carry firearms, execute warrants issued under the law, make arrests without warrants for any offence against the country, for any felony, offer and pay rewards for services and information leading to the arrest of persons involved in crime, investigate fraud in connection with identification documents, fraudulent commerce, fictitious instruments and foreign securities and perform other functions authorised by law.
There are around 3,200 special agents, 1,300 Uniformed Division officers, and more than 2,000 other technical, professional and administrative support personnel in the Secret Service.
Who is Secret Service Director?
Kimberly A Cheatle is the director of Secret Service. She has headed the organisation since September 2022 and is its 27th director, succeeding James M Murray (May 2019-September 2022). She joined service in 1995.
Her previous role with the Secret Service was as the Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations. Before that, Cheatle was the Special Agent In Charge of the organisation’s field office in Atlanta.
How is Secret Service Different From FBI, CIA?
The Secret Service is a federal government department that investigates high-profile financial cases and protects political leaders and other important figures. This agency is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a service that uses gathered intelligence to conduct investigations on behalf of the federal government. Professionals in this department work under the US Department of Justice.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provides intelligence and counterintelligence on foreign countries and global issues to the president, the National Security Council and other policymakers over national security decisions.
There are five main agents in FBI – the surveillance investigator, linguist, intelligence analyst, special agent, forensic accountant. The Secret Service has some roles that include special agent, administrative, professional and technical specialists, communications chief and deputy director.
The CIA, however, collect foreign intelligence, produce objective analysis and conduct overt action as directed by the president. They are not a law enforcement organization, but work with the Intelligence Community, Department of Defence and law enforcement agencies on counterintelligence and counterterrorism.
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