The Secret Service is stepping up security around the former president Donald Trumpan agency official said Monday, just two months after the apparent attempt on his life attempted assassination at a campaign rally.
“Given recent events, the Secret Service is taking a heightened position to protect the former president,” the official said.
The new measures were seen on Monday when Trump stepped off his plane in Pennsylvania and was watched closely by a Secret Service agent.
Security has been stepped up after the incident at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Federal prosecutors recently charged 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh with an apparent assassination attempt on Trump on September 15.
Routh was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number. He was arraigned in Florida on Monday and ordered held pending trial.
A lawsuit Routh, who was arrested on September 15, released a letter to The World this month saying, “It was an assassination attempt against Donald Trump, but I failed you,” Monday said.
On Wednesday, a civilian contacted law enforcement and said he dropped off a box containing a letter, four phones, ammunition and other records at Routh’s residence, according to the filing.
Routh was charged a little more than two months after a gunman shot Trump in the ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump now plans to return on Oct. 5 — a month before Election Day — according to three sources familiar with the campaign schedule.
Home too voted unanimously to strengthen the defense of all presidential candidates. The bill would give candidates the same level of protection as presidents.