The former South Carolina governor confirmed the move in an Feb. 5 interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). "We've had multiple issues," she told the outlet after a campaign event in Aiken, South Carolina. "[But] it's not going to stop me from doing what I need to do."
"A request for her protection has been submitted to federal officials, and her campaign is thinking about how more intense security would affect her campaign schedule and travels," the WSJ continued. Haley's campaign did not respond to a request for comment about details of threats she received.
A week prior, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was asked about greater levels of security at her events in the Palmetto State during a news conference. The next GOP primary is scheduled on Feb. 24 in South Carolina.
"When you do something like this, you get threats; it's just the reality," she told reporters. While Haley acknowledged the need to "put a few more bodies around us," she remarked that it has not affected her campaigning.
"At the end of the day, we're going to go out there and touch every hand; we're going to answer every question; [and] we're going to make sure that we are there and doing everything that we need to."
According to a document on the Secret Service's website, the branch doesn't determine who qualifies for protection. It also isn't empowered to independently initiate protection of certain candidates. Agents can be deployed to protect individuals when the homeland security secretary – Alejandro Mayorkas in this case – authorizes it.
However, the secretary must first consult with a congressional advisory committee. This committee is composed of the House speaker and House minority leader, the Senate majority and minority leaders and one additional member selected by others.
Haley subjected to threats – including SWATTING
The presidential candidate's request for Secret Service protection isn't unfounded, however. During a campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina, a member of Haley's private security detail tackled a woman who tried to rush the stage as she was speaking. Protesters have also shown up at her events, expressing indignation about her support for both Ukraine and Israel.
Haley's home in the state was also targeted by a swatting incident, where a person falsely reports a crime in progress to draw law enforcement to a certain location. The former governor told NBC News' "Meet the Press" that she wasn't home at the time of the incident. However, her elderly parents and their caregiver were at the house.
During her Feb. 5 interview with the WSJ, Haley also expressed disagreement with former President Donald Trump's suggestion to replace Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.
"I will let the [Republican Party] decide who should stay or who should go. What I do know is that we don't do coronations in America, and asking me to leave the [presidential] race was wrong," she remarked. Haley's answer referenced McDaniel's earlier remark that she should drop out of the race so that the GOP can unify around Trump. (Related: Nikki Haley just disqualified herself during a live CBS interview — she's done…)
The RNC chairwoman also said of Haley: "I just don't see the path and the math. I hope she reflects. I think it's time to move forward, and I think Trump is going to be the nominee."
Head over to VoteRepublican.news for more stories about Nikki Haley ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Watch former White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow warn that Nikki Haley will be "clobbered" in her home state below.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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