WASHINGTON — In the aftermath of a second assassination plot against former President Donald Trump, a Wisconsin Republican senator now says Trump ought to have his own private security team — and it ought to oversee the U.S. Secret Service.
Sen. Ron Johnson told Raw Story on Tuesday that Trump should have his own security team because he doesn't have faith in the Secret Service, which is tasked with protecting the nation's leaders and their families, including the president vice president and former presidents. He blasted what he called "spectacular" failures by the agency.
"If Trump didn't already have in place, that was my initial advice after the first assassination attempt is, I wouldn't trust management of the Secret Service," Johnson said at the U.S. Capitol, in response to a question on what should change. "What he needs to do is have his own head of security oversee exactly what the security plans are for every event and if his own, personal representative there isn't satisfied with what the Secret Service providing, don't expose himself."
Johnson added: "If I were running, that's what I would do."
Johnson is the former chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. He was term-limited out in 2021 after six years as the top Republican on the committee.
ALSO READ: Trump turned politics into a joke — and now he’s the punchline
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who is on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, told Raw Story on Tuesday that he believes the candidates are safe, but said the Secret Service should be held "accountable" for its obligation to protect current and former leaders.
Blumenthal said he believes the Department of Homeland Security is "still stonewalling our Congressional inquiry."
"I find it immensely frustrating and outrageous," he said.
When asked by a reporter whether he has spoken with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the stonewalling, Blumenthal said the agency is "well aware" of Congress' view — and sent what he called a communication that was an "insult to our intelligence as well as our proper role as oversight."
When asked to elaborate on his statement, Blumenthal said the agency has "refused to be forthcoming both in specific documents and in redaction on those documents."
He then threatened that if the agency's responses continue to be "unsatisfactory," the panel has ways to compel responses via subpoenas.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, which funds the Secret Service, told Raw Story that he hasn't seen any proposals yet for such a potential private security team for Trump.
"It sounds like a mess," said Murphy, adding: "I legitimately don't know how that would work."
