The Department of Homeland Security has approved requests from Dr. Ben Carson and Donald Trump for Secret Service protection during their presidential bids, CNN and ABC News reported on Thursday.
Secret Service protection authorized for Donald Trump and Ben Carson, CNN has confirmed.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 5, 2015
“As prescribed by statute, authorization for Secret Service protection for presidential candidates is determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security after consultation with a congressional advisory committee composed of the Speaker of the House, the House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader, and an additional member selected by the Committee,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, according to ABC News.
The two Republican presidential candidates requested Secret Service protection in October. Trump cited the large crowds he attracts on the campaign trail in his call for the agency to provide security. Carson told NBC News in October that he didn’t “feel the need for” Secret Service protection, but that the agency felt he needed it.
