How Long Do Former Presidents Get Secret Service
Sometime presidents receive Secret Service protection for life; should erstwhile vice presidents too?
The bill comes in response to some Capitol Building rioters chanting "Hang Mike Pence!" as they stormed the building.
Context
Over time, the vice president and their family members have gradually increased their Secret Service protection.
Starting in 1951, a vice president could first receive the protection if they requested it. In 1962, the protection became required rather than opt-in. In 1971, the protection began for both Autonomous and Republican vice presidential nominees, several months before they were potentially sworn in. In 1974, protection began for the vice president's immediate family (spouse and children). In 1976, immediate family protection was added for major-party vice presidential nominees as well.
All those changes were instituted to mirror the protection that a president or major-political party presidential nominee received. Today, there remains just 1 glaring discrepancy between presidential and vice presidential protection. While presidents and their spouses are given Hugger-mugger Service protection for life, as well as their children upward to age xvi, vice presidents and their families are only given those same protections for vi months afterwards leaving office.
Only some fright for former Vice President Mike Pence, after the January 6 riot and insurrection against the Capitol Building featured rioters chanting "Hang Mike Pence!" because he was slated to certify Donald Trump's election loss later that twenty-four hours within the building, which he ultimately did. Pence likewise attracted ire from many Trump supporters for attention Joe Biden'southward inauguration even every bit Trump refused to attend.
What the pecker does
The Protecting Vice Presidents Deed would grant Underground Service protection for any former vice president and their spouse for life, as well every bit their children up until historic period 16. It was introduced in the House on January 19 equally bill number H.R. 368, by Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA35).
Who would this pecker comprehend in exercise? At the moment, 11 people.
There are currently 6 living vice presidents or former vice presidents who would autumn nether the beak's provisions: Walter Mondale, Dick Cheney, Dan Quayle, Al Gore, and Mike Pence, and Kamala Harris. Biden, another former vice president, volition at present receive protection for life anyway because he ascended to the presidency.
There are also five living "second spouses" or former second spouses who would qualify: Marilyn Quayle, Tipper Gore, Lynne Cheney, Karen Pence, and Kamala Harris'southward husband Doug Emhoff. Like Joe Biden, Jill Biden will now besides receive protection for life anyway because she became First Lady.
(Although Tipper divorced Al Gore a few years after his vice presidency, she would presumably still be entitled to lifetime protection nether this nib. Presidential spouses are entitled to lifetime protection fifty-fifty if they're divorced or widowed, unless they remarry. It'south unclear whether that aforementioned provision would utilise in this bill.)
Equally for vice presidential children? None would currently qualify. Kamala Harris'south two stepchildren Cole and Ella are 26 and 21, and so they wouldn't be covered after her vice presidency, which would only cover children upwardly through age 16.
What supporters say
Supporters argue that just every bit vice presidents and their families have consistently seen their Clandestine Service protection upgraded through the decades to match the president's protection level, the aforementioned should happen again here.
"Every American heard the chants threatening Vice President Pence's life on jail cell telephone videos from the Jan 6th set on on our Capitol," Rep. Torres said in a press release. "Vice Presidents serve every American, regardless of their political party affiliation or political ideology. They must be gratuitous to comport their official duties without fear of violence or retribution, whether it comes while they are in office or later as a private citizen."
"The bill… removes that concern," Rep. Torres continued, "and ensures the threat of violence volition never prevail over the adjuration these public servants swear."
What opponents say
While GovTrack Insider was unable to locate any explicit statements of opposition, some may criticize the bill for existence expensive and unnecessary.
There accept simply been 2 vice presidential assassination attempts, on Andrew Johnson in 1865 and Thomas Marshall in 1915, neither of which were successful. Both occurred while the men held the vice presidency, pregnant there has never been a single assassination attempt on a onetime vice president.
(There have, however, been at least ii assassination attempts on former presidents: Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and George H.W. Bush in 1993. Neither were successful, either.)
Odds of passage
The bill has not notwithstanding attracted any cosponsors. It awaits a potential vote in the House Judiciary Committee.
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This article was written by GovTrack Insider staff author Jesse Rifkin.
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Source: https://govtrackinsider.com/former-presidents-receive-secret-service-protection-for-life-should-former-vice-presidents-too-235b8749a375
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