Police arrested an armed man posing as Robert F Kennedy’s security detail at a California event where Kennedy was giving a speech..
The man, who was caught with a firearm and ammunition, was wearing two shoulder holsters and claimed he was part of Kennedy’s security team.
Kennedy praised his elite security firm, Gavin de Becker and Associates, for being able to flag the individual.
“I’m very grateful that alert and fast-acting protectors… spotted and detained an armed man who attempted to approach me at my Hispanic Heritage speech at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles tonight,” Kennedy posted on social media.
“The man, wearing two shoulder holsters with loaded pistols and spare ammunition magazines was carrying a U.S. Marshal badge on a lanyard and beltclip federal ID. He identified himself as a member of my security detail. Armed GDBA team members moved quickly to isolate and detain the man until LAPD arrived to make the arrest. I’m also grateful to LAPD for its rapid response,” Kennedy added.
“I’m still entertaining a hope that President Biden will allow me Secret Service protection. I am the first presidential candidate in history to whom the White House has denied a request for protection,” he continued.
The man had been impersonating a US Marshal and stated, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed, adding that he would likely be charged with a gun offense.
The news comes just over a month after Kennedy revealed he had been denied Secret Service protection, a resource provided to all major presidential candidates since 1968.
Kennedy said Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told him that protection was “not warranted at this time” after numerous requests to the Department of Homeland Security-led panel.
“Typical turnaround time for pro forma protection requests from presidential candidates is 14 days,” Kennedy said on Twitter.
“After 88 days of no response and after several follow-ups by our campaign, the Biden Administration just denied our request,” he added.
“Our campaign’s request included a 67-page report from the world’s leading protection firm, detailing unique and well-established security and safety risks aside from commonplace death threats,” Kennedy added.
Protection is provided to “major” presidential and vice-presidential candidates and their families within 120 days of a general presidential election.
READ: RFK Jr Admits His Life Is in Danger: I “Take Precautions” So the CIA Doesn’t Kill Me
