Robert F Kennedy Jr's presidential campaign pays Gavin De Becker's security firm for campaign trail protection
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'The Five' co-hosts discuss Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launching his bid for president and challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign racked up $1.4 million in debt to a private security firm, while the Biden administration has repeatedly denied his requests for Secret Service protection.
According to their latest filing with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, Kennedy's campaign raised $3.1 million in February but spent $2.8 million that same month. That is not including the $1.4 million the Kennedy campaign also owes to Gavin De Becker and Associates, the private security firm owned by De Becker, a security specialist and longtime friend of Kennedy, according to Politico.
Not including withstanding debt, the campaign paid just over $200,000 last month for security services and related travel expenses, raising the total paid to Gavin de Becker & Associates to more than $2 million.
Meanwhile, De Becker has donated millions in what he deemed both contributions and "bridge funding" to the pro-Kennedy super PAC American Values 2024. According to a separate FEC filing by the political action committee on Wednesday, De Becker donated another $4 million last month. That accounts for nearly all the total $4.1 million American Values 2024 reported garnering in February.
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Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. hosts a fireside chat with rapper and producer Eric B. at The Gentleman's Factory on Feb. 18, 2024 in New York City. (John Nacion/Getty Images)
De Becker has become the largest donor to the super PAC, second to Republican mega-donor Tim Mellon, Politico reported.
Despite having raised nearly $28 million since kicking off his presidential campaign in April 2023, Kennedy has spent heavily. At the end of February, the campaign reported $5 million in cash on hand. Biden's campaign reported $71 million in cash on hand at the end of February, and former President Trump's campaign reported $33.5 million in cash on hand, Wednesday's FEC filings show.
Kennedy has assailed Biden for having rejected at least three requests for U.S. Secret Service protection while on the 2024 campaign trail. His father, former U.S. senator, U.S. Attorney General and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968, and his uncle, former President Kennedy, was assassinated in 1963,
A view of pamphlets while Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. hosts a fireside chat with Eric B. at The Gentleman's Factory on Feb. 18, 2024, in New York City. ( John Nacion/Getty Images)
As recently as December, Biden's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas deemed that Secret Service protection for Kennedy "is not warranted at this time," according to a letter obtained by Deseret News. According to Kennedy, that was despite several documented death threats against him.
In late October, a man was arrested twice for trespassing at Kennedy's home twice in the same day.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visits the First Baptist Church Food Pantry on Feb. 17, 2024 in New York City. His campaign pays for security protection. (John Nacion/Getty Images)
The suspect, Jonathan Macht, was listed in a Secret Service risk assessment as part of the candidate's first request for protection in June, sources told Fox News Digital at the time. The assessment deemed Kennedy was at elevated risk, but the Democrat turned independent presidential candidate's request for protection was still denied by Homeland Security.
Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to
