U.S. Secret Service Reports Record-High Threat Level — Bloomberg
The U.S. Secret Service has stepped up security measures ahead of the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Agency Director Sean Kerran stated that the threat level leading up to the event is the highest it has been in his 24 years of service.
Kerran said that the situation ahead of the dinner, scheduled for Friday, July 24, had gone “beyond the norm.” In particular, he noted that he is currently observing “the highest threat level in his entire 24-year career.”
“We are currently operating under an elevated threat level,” he acknowledged.
The director of the U.S. Secret Service noted that the situation has become more unstable not only for U.S. President Donald Trump but also for other individuals under protection and local officials.
Deputy Director Matthew Quinn linked the danger to hostility from abroad. In particular, he noted that Iran has publicly declared its intention to kill Trump, and added that the agency is also analyzing intelligence data that he cannot discuss in detail.
He identified the potential threat from drones as a priority.
“It’s only a matter of time before this reaches the United States,” he added.
A Secret Service official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the agency had opened about 10,000 cases related to threats this year. The number of cases related to defensive intelligence has increased by about 40% compared to last year, according to Bloomberg.
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