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.

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    9 hours ago

    Interesting question that hadn’t occurred to me. Great one to bring up as a thought experiment. I agree with a sibling comment that says he likely wouldn’t be covered if convicted, but this is also new (and previously unthinkable) territory.

    • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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      8 hours ago

      It isn’t previously unthinkable, they just previously chose not to think about it. Reagan and Nixon are recent criminal presidents that were both spared prosecution and given full honors as former presidents.

      • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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        8 hours ago

        Even those of us who wanted Bush Jr to stand trial for war crimes never thought it was possible. This is the first time it’s been a possibility for sure. That’s how far this asshole has run amuck.

        • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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          7 hours ago

          I was strictly speaking violations of US law, not international law. That list is much more extensive.