Nikki Haley Requests Secret Service Protection
Nikki Haley Requests Secret Service Protection
Nikki Haley, the Republican presidential contender, has requested U.S. Secret Service protection after being targeted in security incidents.
The Request for Protection
The campaign did not disclose specific threats that prompted the request, but Haley was targeted in two “swatting” incidents and faced protests at her events in South Carolina.
Protests and Threats
Protesters opposing Haley’s support for additional military assistance for Ukraine and her support for Trump have regularly disrupted or demonstrated near her events in South Carolina.
Security Measures
The Secret Service often provides security to major presidential candidates, and Haley’s request will be authorized by the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Congressional Advisory Committee.
Response from Authorities
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on Haley’s request for protection, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Swatting Incidents
Swatting, the filing of false reports to the police to set off a potentially dangerous response by officers, is a form of intimidation or harassment that is increasingly being used to target prominent figures, including officials involved in the civil and criminal cases against Trump.
FBI Involvement
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was tracking one of the hoax calls that led to the swatting incident at Haley’s South Carolina home in December and intended to open a “threat assessment,” according to an e-mail obtained by Reuters in January.
Election Outlook
In the battle to take on Democratic President Joe Biden in the November general election, Trump is leading Haley by more than 56 percentage points, according to an average maintained by polling analysis website FiveThirtyEight. In South Carolina, Trump leads by roughly 32 points.
