Donald Trump, Ben Carson request Secret Service protection

Donald Trump and Ben Carson have both submitted official requests for protection from the Secret Service, a Homeland Security spokesperson said Monday.

For the Republican presidential candidates to receive protection, their requests have to be approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with a congressional advisory committee that includes House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Carson told ABC News during an event in Texas that it wasn't his idea to request protection. "Actually Secret Service and FBI came to our campaign and they said we need Secret Service protection," he said. "The bottom line is there's been a lot of threats so obviously it's considered legitimate."

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