(HorizonPost.com) – The Director of the US Secret Service last weekend acknowledged that the current political divisions in the country increase the risk of a domestic threat as the agency makes preparations to protect the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this summer.
During last Sunday’s broadcast of ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos discussed the upcoming nominating conventions with Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle.
When asked if the “extreme” polarization in the country today has enhanced the “threat environment” in the lead-up to the conventions, Director Cheatle said that while threats constantly evolve, the current political divisions play into it.
Cheatle said that the Secret Service is facing a very different environment from that of the 2020 election and suggested that there would likely be another “evolution” before the next presidential election four years from now.
The Secret Service Director said while there have been no specific or credible threats against either the Republican or Democratic conventions as yet, the Secret Service is continuing to monitor possible threats from both foreign and domestic terror groups ahead of the conventions.
The Republicans will be in Milwaukee for their nominating convention from July 15-18. Democrats will be in Chicago the following month for their convention.
The conventions are taking place within the downtown areas of both Milwaukee and Chicago, which will necessitate a significant security presence by the Secret Service, as well as local law enforcement.
Director Cheatle said the Secret Service was assessing the risk from not only foreign and domestic terror groups but also from other threats, including possible lone gunmen or an attack from another organized group.
Given the current pro-Hamas protests plaguing Democrats throughout the country, it is very likely the Chicago convention could have its fair share of protesters.
Cheatle said that while law enforcement respected people’s right to “express their First Amendment rights,” there were concerns that protests at the conventions could turn violent. She added that if this happened, the Secret Service would take “appropriate action.”
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