Former U.S. presidents are authorized a security detail from the Secret Service for life. If Trump loses the election and flees the country, does his security detail have to go with him if he requests it?

I imagine this could go down in a variety of ways: He departs the U.S. before he’s sentenced and just never returns, or he attempts to flees or does flees the U.S. after his sentencing. Either way, what happens to his security detail?

If he attempts to flees after he’s sentenced, I would hope the detail would refuse to take part in it (if he can even board a plane/leave the country to begin with), but given all their failings, who knows.

  • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
    38·
    3 months ago

    The USSS would not have any obligation to a former president that is a fugitive from law.

    As individuals they could abandon their service, which has serious legal remifications, and follow Trump of their own choice. I doubt any would do that because why they became USSS and how badly it would ruin their lives.

    • grasshopper_mouse@lemmy.worldOP
      161·
      3 months ago

      So I looked into the USSS, and here from their FAQ: "Under Title 18, Section 3056, of the United States Code, agents and officers of the United States Secret Service can:

      Carry firearms

      Execute warrants issued under the laws of the United States

      Make arrests without warrants for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony recognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed such felony

      Offer and pay rewards for services and information leading to the apprehension of persons involved in the violation of the law that the Secret Service is authorized to enforce

      Investigate fraud in connection with identification documents, fraudulent commerce, fictitious instruments and foreign securities and

      Perform other functions and duties authorized by law"

      This leads me to wonder just how many times a SS Agent witnessed Trump committing a felony in their presence but didn’t arrest him.

      • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
        10·
        3 months ago

        They have no obligation to enforce the law, just as a patrol cop does not need to pull you over for speeding. There also is having to be the guy that arrests Trump and the response that would bring you.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 months ago

        There’s a massive difference between watching someone commit arson and watching a document get delivered that turns everything into a RICO case. You’d never know unless you knew the business details.

      • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
        7·
        3 months ago

        He is more of a fan of his wife dying and hiding things in the coffin.

        Melania falls down the stairs and he has her casket sent to her homeland of Slovenia or burial, which is quite the convenient place for him to find himself.