WASHINGTON (CNN) – Protection for former Vice President Dick Cheney has been extended, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan confirmed to CNN Tuesday.
Donovan would not say for how long the extension will last. The extension, reportedly requested by Cheney, went through the standard process and was officially authorized by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano July 17, according to DHS spokeswoman Sara Kuban.
The extension was not based on a specific threat against the former vice president, CNN has also learned. Rather, officials believed the move was justified given the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, political debate about the Bush administration's strategies and Cheney's active public schedule, according to a government official with knowledge of the matter.
Ordinarily, former vice presidents only receive Secret Service protection for the first six months after leaving office. DHS told CNN this is the first time a former vice president's security detail has been extended beyond the standard duration.
–CNN's John King, Kevin Bohn, and Martina Stewart contributed to this report.
(Updated 5:45 pm with DHS comment)
From CNN Politics
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They can't follow him to prison.
I am fine with this, will he be kept in his secure location? Please?
Wait let me guess...he doesn't deserve it, that way we can finally get rid of him or put him in jail. Ok CNN, you can close the topic now, I've just summed up the next 100 posts or so.
He requested an extention? Maybe his conscience is bothering him?
Another waste of tax payers dollars. This guy should be in jail. Then, the tax dollars would be well spent.
Well, he was the president...
By the way, Darth Cheney is not like Darth Vader. Cheney is more like Darth Sideous, the Emperor. Poor confused Vader is Bush.
"Cheney's active public schedule." What a lame excuse. We haven't heard from him since his secret came out. How hard can it be to protect Darth Vader when he is hiding in his secret bunker?!?!
Of course no one has heard from Cheney since it surfaced that he authorized an illegal CIA operation. He is probably hiding is highly secret and undisclosed location. Wonder if even the Secret Service can find him
I hope Cheney is picking up the tab for this.
He still needs to pay 4 the waterboarding death of Manny the houseboy.
Hated much? Wonder why? You sure didn't care about the safety of the over 5,000 US soldiers that you had killed for your illegal war or the over 100,000 innocent iraq's killed.
Will he have Secret Service protection in Jail?
They should get lifetime protection, not phased out protection.
What's he afraid of?
Dick Cheney made a tons of money while he was VP thru his connection with Halliburton. He should rely on his own financial resources for protection instead of relying on the taxpayers money.
The man is a schmuck. I wonder how many votes Cheney and Bush would have received IF the far-right knew in 2000 and 2004 that Cheney supports same-sex-marriage?
Why is anybody trying to protect this man? If this were the dems, the repubs would move full speed ahead in prosecuting whomever stepped in their way.
Funny how CNN leaves out that it was President Obama put in the request for it to be extended.
And how much is this costing tax payers?
Why is the US protecting a murderer and a terrorists??
I'm afraid that Dick Cheney has made so many enemies during his lifetime (not just as vice president) that the secret service would do well to protect him for the rest of his life.
The best protection for Dick Cheney could be found in a dark, deep prison cell for the rest of his evil life. His crimes are admitted, but nobody in this government has the desire to prosecute. It is always the rich, powerful and obvious that go without punishment. Dick Cheney is going to be gone soon of natural causes, but remembered as the fascist that represented our country as vice-president. How sad for us.
It doesn't matter how long they extend it for. Just another waste of taxpayers' money by a Republican.
BIG BAD CHENEY needs protection.....now that's funny!
How about we use that money wisely and redirect it to our veterans....He's big and bad, so is his daughter....Let them protect each other....Isn't that robbing money from the economy? Better still, let Halliburton fund his protection....