McCain forgoes Secret Service

Published 10:53 pm Thursday, April 3, 2008

WASHINGTON — Arizona Sen. John McCain is not currently protected by the Secret Service, despite having locked up the GOP nomination for president and spending most of his time campaigning before large crowds, the director of the agency testified Thursday.

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told a House appropriations subcommittee that the two-time presidential contender has not yet requested the agency’s services.

“Statutorily, he is not required to take protection,” Sullivan said in response to a question during a hearing on the agency’s budget. “As far as an actual request, we have not gotten one. We have no involvement at this point.”