Barabak: Should Kamala Harris Be Protected? At What Cost? - Beritaja

When Kamala Harris was contemplating a tally for California governor, 1 of her expected considerations was the information item that attends the state’s main executive.

The services of a life-preserving, ego-boosting retinue of intimidating protectors — image acheronian glasses, earpiece, stern visage — were cited by much than 1 Harris associate, past and present, arsenic a facet successful her deliberations. These were not Trumpers aliases Harris haters looking to impugn aliases embarrass the erstwhile vice president.

According to 1 of those associates, Harris has been accompanied nonstop by an charismatic driver and personification pinch a weapon since 2003, erstwhile she was elected San Francisco territory attorney. One could easy turn accustomed to that level of comfortableness and status, not to mention the pleasance of ne'er having to personally navigate the 101 aliases 405 freeways astatine unreserved hour.

That is, of course, a perfectly unspeakable and selfish logic to tally for governor, if ever it was a portion of Harris’ thinking. To her credit, the logic she chose to not run was a very bully one: Harris simply “didn’t consciousness called” to prosecute the job, successful the words of 1 governmental advisor.

Now, however, the matter of Harris’ individual protection has go a taxable of heated chat and debate, which is hardly astonishing successful an property erstwhile everything has go politicized, including “and” and “the.”

There is plentifulness of bad religion to spell around.

Last month, President Trump abruptly revoked Harris’ Secret Service protection. The information statement for vice presidents typically lasts for six months aft they time off office, allowing them to softly slice into ever greater obscurity. But earlier vacating the White House, President Biden signed an executive bid extending protection for Harris for an further year. (Former presidents are guarded by Secret Service specifications for life.)

As the first female, first Black and first Asian American vice president, Harris faced, arsenic they opportunity successful the protective-service business, an elevated threat level while serving successful the post. In the 230-odd days since Harris near office, location is nary logic to judge racism and misogyny, not to mention wild-eyed partisan hatred, person abruptly abated successful this awesome onshore of ours.

And location stay nary mini number of group crazy capable to violently act connected those impulses.

The president could person been gracious and extended Harris’ protection. But expecting grace retired of Trump is for illustration counting connected a starving Doberman to show restraint erstwhile presented a bloody T-bone steak.

“This is different enactment of revenge pursuing a agelong database of governmental retaliation successful the shape of firings, the revoking of information clearances and more,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass angrily declared.

True.

Though Bass omitted the spot about six months being modular operating procedure, which would person astatine slightest offered immoderate context. It wasn’t arsenic though Harris was being treated otherwise than past vice presidents.

Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly stepped into the breach, providing Harris protection by the California Highway Patrol. Soon after, The Times’ Richard Winton broke the news that Los Angeles Police Department officers meant to beryllium fighting crime successful hard-hit areas of the metropolis were alternatively providing information for Harris arsenic a supplement to the CHP.

Not a awesome look. Or the champion usage of constabulary resources.

Thus followed news that officers had been pulled disconnected Harris’ information detail aft soul criticism; supposedly the LAPD’s engagement had ever been intended arsenic a stopgap measure.

All good and good, until the conservative-leaning Los Angeles Police Protective League, the national representing rank-and-file officers, saw fresh to rumor a gratuitously snarky connection condemning the hasty arrangement. Its committee of board described Harris arsenic “a grounded statesmanlike campaigner who besides happens to beryllium a multi-millionaire, pinch aggregate homes ... who could easy spend to salary for her ain security.”

As if Harris’ 2024 defeat — she lost the celebrated ballot to Trump by a scant 1.5%, it mightiness beryllium noted — was someway relevant.

To beryllium certain, Harris and her husband, attorney Doug Emhoff, won’t miss immoderate basking meals arsenic they shelter successful their 3,500-square-foot Brentwood home. (The 1 location they own.) But they’re not stupid-rich either.

One personification successful the private-security business told Winton that a definite family sanction pays him $1,000 a time for a 12-hour shift. That could quickly adhd up and put a noticeable dent successful your backmost account, assuming your sanction isn’t Elon aliases Taylor aliases Zuckerberg aliases Bezos.

Setting speech partisanship — if that’s still imaginable — and speaking bluntly, there’s thing to beryllium said for ensuring Harris doesn’t dice a convulsive decease astatine the hands of immoderate crazed assailant.

The CHP’s Dignitary Protection Section is charged pinch protecting each 8 of California’s law officers — we’re talking folks specified arsenic the security commissioner and authorities controller — arsenic good arsenic the first woman and different elected officials, arsenic warranted. The statutory authority besides extends to erstwhile law officers, which would see Harris, who served six years arsenic authorities lawyer general.

Surely there’s room successful California’s $321-billion budget to make judge thing unspeakable happens to 1 of the state’s about salient and credentialed citizens. It doesn’t person to beryllium an open-ended, life committedness to Harris’ protection, but an statement that could beryllium periodically reviewed, arsenic clip passes and imaginable threat wanes.

Serving successful elected agency could beryllium rough, particularly successful these incendiary times. The value shouldn’t see having to walk the remainder of your life looking nervously complete your shoulder.

Or draining your life savings, truthful you don’t person to.