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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Cheney's paranoia is setting in... he thinks the bad guys are out to get him, when he himself was the bad guy all along.
After reading some of these far left idiots that have posted here I'm all for it. Anyone saying some of the things that have been said about Cheney here is sick; you need help period.
All of a sudden, Cheney is chicken! LOL
All of you people who say such evil and hateful things about Vice President Cheney have absolutely no clue how much you owe this man. He and Rumsfeld are the two greatest living Americans. If it wasn't for the two of them we surely would have had another terrorist attack by now. I can't believe anyone who calls themself an American would have any respect for Obama but would say such horrible things about Cheney. The world truly has been turned on its head.
I keep reading "war criminal" and "jail" from liberals. I'll ask again...evidence please! You will probably mention last weeks CIA news or something. Realize, you have been chanting this a long time before that news came out! Evidence please!! Not opinions, not emotions, not liberal talking points, not the usual drivel Simply the EVIDENCE!!!
I sure hope that people who comment on CNN blogs are not typical of the average American citizen. If so, we have become a nation that hates anyone that thinks differently about anything. I read these comments every few days, and I still can't decide if those that continue to write this trash are typical or just crazy. Anyway, I hope most people are just taking care of their family and their life and aren't so tied up in all this stupidity!
Heres another bit of wasteful government spending that should be cut.
Maybe if he has to stand on his own two feet in dealing with the public after some of the things that come out of his mouth he'll concider his words more carefully.
Ha Ha Ha......
Innocent need Protection from Criminals.
Criminals don't need Protection from Innocent.
What a Joke.... Ha Ha Ha Ha
That is Funny..... Ha Ha Ha Ha :) :P
@Sharon July 21st, 2009 4:02 pm ET
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
----------------------
So, based upon your theory, George Soros, Move on, ACORN, and any union are the president?
good ol' dick has done it again. he keeps making more and more liberals scream their heads off each time he pops up!
What a bunch of ignorant jerks.....Name a single crime that Cheney has been formally charged with, let alone being convicted of. Stop with the jail crap unless a conviction has happened. And what proof does anyone have that Haliberton syphoned any money off to Cheney. Cheney divested himself of any interest in Haliberton when he became VP. Unless you've got proof, you're just committing slander. (bunch of idiots)
@ "Osama B Laden" who said "And those around the world will be astonished as the cause of death will have been an internal cancer: liberalism."
Thank you for so eloquently equating the GOP's zealot-driven fundamentalist conservatism with that of Al Qaeda.
VP's normally do not receive Secret Service protection after leaving office. Just another way to sock it to the taxpayers. The reason he is requesting an extension will continue to exist for decades.
Obama stopped world war 3 from happening, shortly before stopping the total destruction and bombing of California. We have no proof, we can't tell you how. But since it didn't happen, Obama did stop world war three, four and five from happening. Thank you Obama. We would all be dead if it wasn't for you.
And when you all believe that.....I'll believe that torturing people saved lives, all because "oh, nothing happened on our soil during that time....it must be because of the torturing. Torturing is good stuff" crap from the right wing parrot heads.
Cheney should be hung for treason! He blemished the standing of american morals. As a veteran, Cheney is a weak, pathetic and immoral coward. Run five times from serving your country and then turn to torture because you are too weak and pathetic to do your job with morals in tact.
Given the intollerance, ignorance and hatefullness on display everday on this blog by the dems and Obamabots, I think Cheney should get protection for life. Liberal dems are practically homicidal against those who may differ in opinion.
Can always tell when I've finally gotten under your skin GOPers...the mimics come out....such flattery...sigh...
What a waste of taxpayer money. This man has done nothing but ridicule this president and he has the nerve to ask for more protection. Guess he needs someone to drive for him and open the door, etc. Cheny please go away and hide.
Steve (the real one): There's plenty of evidence; what's been lacking is the political will to prosecute.
Americans have the stomach to endure weeks of testimony about a stain on a blue dress, but God forbid they should have to pay attention to something as trivial (and unexciting) as trampling on the Constitution!
Why don't he get his daughter Liz to protect him on their dime, not the taxpayers. He has been out of office for six months already. he is scared that the Taliban is coming for him for lying.
Why would he want an extention on Secret Service protection? He knows he is guilty of war crimes and ripping off the American taxpayers for billions. He is rich enough that he should pay for his own protection. I say coward Cheney is a flight risk and should be grounded to U.S. soil until his court date. ( we can only hope and pray for that one).
Oh, I don't know; maybe if Cheney kept his mouth shut and stopped reminding us of the farce he presided over for 8 years he wouldn't need any detail of any kind. Now, who dares tell me I'm wrong.
So, my money is taken from me through taxes and given to protect this guy? Sounds like SSSSSOCIALISM!!!!
Well when you're evil and make so many enemies....
Cheney is a socialist. He doesn't want the government taking care of any of it's citizens, but he wants the government to take care of him. Man up and protect yourself Cheney, stop depending on the government to do it for you. Your friends tell me you're a pretty good shot. No reason to depend on government hand outs now is there? Or are you nothing more then a dirt bag hypocrite with no integrity?
Cheney is a typical republican: Tortures people for a living and hunts his friends in his spare time.
Of course he needs protection, as one of the most vile villains of our century, the greatest threat to our Democracy in recent times, an evil man, directly responsible for American’s capitalist financial system on the brink of collapse and left America at WAR with a country that posed no real treat. No doubt there are a lot of Repubs out ther angry that he played the GOP to accomplish his own personal nefarious agenda, and as a result, crushed the viability out of that party?