Does Sarah Huckabee Sanders Need Secret Service Protection?
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will reportedly receive temporary Secret Service protection at her house as early as Wednesday.
The development was first reported by NBC on Tuesday. Sources familiar with the matter told CBS that other high-profile officials from the White House could also be expected to receive similar protection.
It is unclear what prompted the move and how long the secret service protection will last, as the Secret Service would not comment. "For operational security purposes, the Secret Service does not comment on its protective operations," it told CNN.
NEW: The Secret Service will begin providing security at the home of Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, on a temporary basis, a law enforcement official tells @PeteWilliamsNBC
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) June 26, 2018
The news comes less than a week after Sanders was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant, along with several of her family members, because of her role in the Trump administration. The next day, Sanders confirmed the incident in a tweet in which she said she left politely when asked to by the owner of the establishment.
"Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for @POTUS and I politely left," she wrote on Twitter Saturday. "Her actions say far more about her than about me. I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so."
President Donald Trump attacked the restaurant and defended Sanders in a tweet on Monday. "The Red Hen Restaurant should focus more on cleaning its filthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fine person like Sarah Huckabee Sanders. I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the outside, it is dirty on the inside!" he wrote.
The Red Hen Restaurant should focus more on cleaning its filthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fine person like Sarah Huckabee Sanders. I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the outside, it is dirty on the inside!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018
Sanders also read a statement during her Monday press briefing when she addressed the incident. "We are allowed to disagree but we should be able to do so freely and without fear of harm, and this goes for all people regardless of politics," she said. "Healthy debate on ideas and political philosophy is important, but the calls for harassment and push for any Trump supporter to avoid the public is unacceptable [sic]."
