Trump, Hunter, and Secret Service
Terry H. Schwadron
June 27, 2023
Ironically, the embattled Hunter Biden may be about to do us an important service.
Because he reached a plea deal over two tax evasion charges and a criminal count related to filing a false report for a drug addict to own a gun, Biden is about to offer us a relatively public preview of what happens when the Secret Service has to protect a felon.
In a piece in The Messenger, a small Florida outlet offering “objective” news, Donald J. Mihalek, a retired senior Secret Service agent and instructor, outlines exactly how the protective service is supposed to act to protect a lawbreaker whose status affirms that he gets coverage.
Naturally, we’re already thinking about what might befall Donald Trump if he is convicted on this Mar-a-Lago classified documents case or on pending charges in Georgia or Washington related to the plotting and planning for Jan. 6 violence. That idea tightened last night with a release on CNN of a two-minute audiotapeof Trump apparently sharing the contents of what he himself described as a secret document with a visitor.
Hunter Biden still must formally enter his guilty pleas next month, but according to the deal, he will be on probation, not serving prison time. Of course, we’ve seen Republicans in Congress in high dudgeon because they believe Biden — as well as his entire family — should be in jail right now for the 10-year maximum sentence for the gun charge.
That view skips the decision for a recovering addict to be permitted to enter a sentencing diversion program based on his status as a first-time felon who is dealing with the addiction. Nevertheless, Secret Service agents could soon be tasked with protecting a felon because Hunter still qualifies for the coverage. The situation is historic and unprecedented — at least temporarily.
We could see what a convicted Trump might face, even if there is no prison time.
How Does it Work?
A Hunter Biden on federal probation would be required to meet several stipulations from the sentencing judge, a Trump appointee. Those would include staying away from other criminal activity, being subject to random drug tests and searches, and having check-ins with an assigned probation officer. Unless he waives Secret Service protection, all these probation requirements would have to be choreographed with his Secret Service detail. The probation officer would have to abide by Secret Service protective measures, which could include searches and security checks of the probation officer, Mihalek notes.
Agents could not impede or interfere with probation requirements, just ensure that they were within existing protective mandates.
If Trump is found guilty or accept a plea deal one on or more of his indicted felonies, Secret Service agents would likely be required to protect him while on probation or in prison. Trump remains innocent now, but each of the 37 counts of his indictment carries the possibility of prison, presumably in a federal prison “camp” that is a work and program-oriented minimum-security institutions generally used for well-known convicts. Generally, they have dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing.
The Secret Service would do its protective work ahead of time and determine where agents would be assigned and the best ways to offer protection. Trump’s movements would be tightly controlled — and when he moved, would probably entail what federal prisons already do for prisoners in protective custody, which would include clearing hallways, providing separate dining and workout facilities or times and other separate accommodations. Essentially, to the extent possible, the protectee would be segregated from the other prisoners.
Knowing that Trump will be looking to Hunter Biden as a potential model is a moment to savor.
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