The U.S. Secret Service has reported that threats against political protectees have reached a historic level, according to ABC7 Chicago. The outlet’s I-Team spoke with the agency’s Chicago Field Office about the surge.
The report, published Saturday, did not specify which individuals are protected or provide exact figures. ABC7 Chicago noted that the threat level is unprecedented in the agency’s history.
The Chicago Field Office is one of many Secret Service offices handling protective operations across the country. The office’s comments to ABC7 Chicago suggest that the increase is being felt locally as well as nationally.
The Secret Service is responsible for safeguarding current and former presidents, vice presidents, major presidential candidates, and their families. A rise in threats typically leads to more security deployments and closer scrutiny of public events.
ABC7 Chicago’s reporting did not include details on the nature of the threats or any arrests linked to them. The agency has not released a formal statement beyond what was shared with the outlet.
This development comes as political campaigns and public appearances continue to draw large crowds. The Secret Service has not indicated whether the trend is expected to slow in the coming months.
What to watch next: whether the agency will release official threat statistics or announce new security measures in response to the reported surge.
