Skip to: Site menu | Main content

Secret Service: Obama placed under protection

2007-05-05

CNN May 3rd, 2007

 

(CNN) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, a U.S senator from Illinois, has been placed under the protection of the Secret Service, the agency said Thursday.

The government is not aware of any specific, credible threat against Obama, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the decision. But the campaign has received hate mail and calls and other "threatening materials" in the past and during his campaign, the source said.

Three Obama campaign officials who discussed the issue on condition of anonymity also said there was no specific threat against the candidate. They said the request stemmed from what one called the "cumulative effect" of a heavier campaign schedule, larger crowds and "just the growing perception internally" it was time to take additional security precautions that are best suited for the Secret Service.

The Secret Service said in a written statement that DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, "after consultation with the congressional advisory committee, authorized the United States Secret Service to protect presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama.

"As a matter of procedure, we will not release any details of the deliberations of assessments that led to protection being initiated," the statement said. (Posted 4:48 p.m.)

Link to This | Back to top

[ Back to top ]

Created with ShoutPost