by Jackpine Savage on Tue Jul 23, 2024 1:05 pm
I think a combination of both. I listened to a couple videos put on by Paramount Tactical on youtube, interviewing an actual Secret Service counter sniper. He didn't claim to have any inside information, but said he has watched every piece of video he can find. He said that the Secret Service complement seemed typical for a former President, but much less than what he would expect for a candidate.
It was an interesting interview. He didn't come across as having an axe to grind, but rather someone that loved the agency. It sounds like the Secret Service has been chronically understaffed and has a high turnover rate. He said it was common for him to put in 80 to 100 hours of overtime in a two week period. Getting a call to go to work and not making it back home for three months.
A couple other things that I learned:
- It is mandated in statute that candidates for President are provided security 120 days prior to the election. Candidate Obama actually received coverage prior to this based on the fact he was the presumed nominee and on the threat assessment.
- The intent of the statute is to provide a free and fair election, not to protect any one person.
- There is a committee made up of the speaker of the house, minority leader in the house, Senate president, and minority leader in the senate. They make recommendations as to when and what coverage is provided based on a general threat assessment. This is given to the DHS, and then the Secret Service. It would be interesting to see this document.
"I'll just store it at my place in Arizona. 
" - Markemp - 2/18/24 (referring to his M1A if it should be banned in MN)
