WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to U.S. Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe urging the agency to provide former President Trump with the same level of protection that it provides a sitting president following the second apparent attempt to assassinate the former President in two months:

Two Assassination Attempts Against a Major Presidential Candidate in Two Months is Unacceptable

“While we are still awaiting more details about this horrific event, I am thankful that the perpetrator was unsuccessful and the Secret Service agent acted swiftly to ensure that the former president is safe. But one thing is abundantly clear: within the span of a mere two months, there have been two assassination attempts against a major presidential candidate and former president in the United States of America. It is unfathomable and unacceptable that this incident occurred.”

Secret Service Must Elevate Former President Trump’s Security Detail and Level of Protection

“I urge you to immediately elevate President Trump’s security detail to the same level of protection that the Secret Service provides to a sitting President of the United States. As you know, incumbent presidents receive the highest level of Secret Service protection, while former presidents and presidential candidates are afforded lower levels of security that vary depending on the threat level to the protectee. Following the tragic first assassination attempt that occurred on July 13, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas confirmed that the Secret Service enhanced President Trump’s level of protection. But, put simply, that security enhancement was still not enough to prevent an unimaginable second assassination attempt.”

Americans Deserve to Know Exactly How the Secret Service Will Right This Wrong

“In your testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in July, you promised to ‘implement meaningful change’ following the Butler assassination attempt. That meaningful change is long overdue… The American people deserve answers about what actions the Secret Service will be taking to right this wrong, and I hope and expect that you will provide public congressional testimony on this tragic event.”

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Click here for the full text of the letter.