(TargetLiberty.org) – In a concerning turn of events, a man was apprehended twice on the same day for trespassing on the property of Robert Kennedy Jr., who is currently running as an independent candidate for President. The man, identified as Jonathan Macht, a real estate agent from Pacific Palisades, California, was initially taken into custody at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time. He was charged on suspicion of trespassing, and an emergency protective order was issued against him.
Incredibly, shortly after being released, Macht was arrested once again at 6:10 p.m. for violating the same protective order by being present at Kennedy’s property. This unsettling episode has reignited Kennedy’s concerns over the lack of Secret Service protection for his campaign. Speaking on a media outlet, Kennedy disclosed that he had twice applied for Secret Service coverage but had been turned down by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Kennedy’s calls for protection are not without basis. Previously, a 44-year-old man named Adrian Paul Aispuro had been arrested on allegations of posing as a law enforcement officer at a Kennedy campaign event. While the District Attorney’s office decided against filing felony charges, Aispuro did face charges for carrying a concealed weapon and impersonation before being released on bail.
The need for security is underscored by the grim history of the Kennedy family; Robert Kennedy Jr.’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, were both tragically assassinated. Meanwhile, the DHS maintains that before they can allocate Secret Service protection to a candidate, they are required to consult with a Congressional advisory committee. Furthermore, the agency is not authorized to surveil individuals it is not actively safeguarding, according to guidelines.
This series of events has left many questioning whether adequate measures are in place to protect those running for public office, and it has specifically increased the scrutiny on the criteria used to allocate Secret Service protection.
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