If the Secret Service were aware of (or observed) Trump using cocaine, could they / would they arrest him?

Interesting question.

Could they? I think they could or at least hold him until local law enforcement was notified and arrived.

Would they? Probably not, executive privilege and all that.

What the hell? Do you think Trump is using cocaine? I don’t believe Trump would “use” anything. Never say never if course, but it’s very doubtful in my opinion.

To answer your Q I think the Secret Service would do nothing. I would expect them to have loyalty to the person they protect even beyond the law. Of course, there is always the chance they do turn the person in, but I would bet that’s less likely than not.

That’s my guess based on nothing.

I would think (based on nothing but my own thoughts) that in order to have full access to protect someone, there is some guarantee of not reporting misbehavior.

The Bush girls were never arrested for drug use despite one of them having to go to rehab. Malia Obama was smoking something at Lollapalooza.

Donald can snort all he wants.

Their job is to protect the candidate, and not to assess any criminality in his actions.

@JLeslie – there’s more than a little commenting on Twitter (and elsewhere) that the reason for Trump’s pacing and constant sniffing was because of cocaine use. Do a Google search.

@elbanditoroso Well, I’ve always thought of Trump as not using anything, because of the experience in his family, but anything is possible. He has been an advocate for no alcohol and no drugs for many many years.

I have the documentation right here

I don’t have any firsthand knowledge of Secret Service rules, and it’s not something that I have studied, however I would expect – just based on answering the question I posed to myself: “How would I manage the Secret Service protective detail around the candidate?” – they would take no action.

That is, they would take no action, deliberately and with full knowledge of what the candidate was doing, as long as no agent or other person was put at risk. And I would expect that this is clearly communicated to the candidates.

After all, you don’t want the protected person to be actively working to “slip” or otherwise evade his protective detail to engage in his various tawdry and non-harmful-to-others pursuits (victimless crimes, in other words), and the person has to have some freedom of movement and agency, so it would be explicitly spelled out to him: “Do as you will, just don’t hurt anyone, and we won’t say a word.”

I think that unless one of the candidates wanted to take the metaphorical step of “shooting someone on Fifth Avenue”, then he could pretty much do it with the full knowledge and complicity of the Secret Service, no matter how distasteful that might be to the agents themselves or to the agency.

@Seek = nice picture

@JLeslie “Well, I’ve always thought of Trump as not using anything, because of the experience in his family, but anything is possible. He has been an advocate for no alcohol and no drugs for many many years.”

Yeah, sure. Well if you ignore his Trump Vodka brand at least.

As for the question: the Secret Service are there for protection. In regards to anything else I quite imagine, like any bodyguard detail, it’s “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing”.

@Darth_Algar That’s business. He separates the two.

@JLeslie

Of course. And who wouldn’t go into a business they advocate against?

No. My company also does executive protection. We wouldn’t have our clients very long if we arrest them.

Wealthy people are much more fucked up than normal people. Your average prisoners have done far less illegal activities than people with Trump’s kind of money.

I have to let things slide too. It’s an unfortunate part of the job.

One of our guys that used to work for my company was a cop wanna be. He arrested a employee at one of our venues for doing coke in the bathroom. He doesn’t work for us anymore. ..

I PICKED IT! I knew you were in security.

“Money makes a hypocrite of the weak man.”

@Darth_Algar I’m not saying I approve of it or think it’s a good idea, or even ethical, but a whole bunch of people turn a blind eye to what is in their stock portfolios, and own companies they wouldn’t approve of necessarily. Average people who own funds that they don’t even know everything in the fund.

Trump has said for years he has seen people screw up their lives with alcohol and drugs, that he has told his kids since they could walk and talk never to touch the stuff. He has said it on interviews many times that he sees drugs and alcohol ruin the lives of very bright young people.

It doesn’t mean he isn’t using, I obviously can’t guarantee anything from where I sit, I’m only saying he has always been a big advocate to stay away from drugs.

@cazzie Good quote.

Of course the SS can make arrests. They are law enforcement. Law enforcement can make arrests. Are they going to arrest someone like Donald Trump for doing something like what people are alleging? I’d guess not.

I’m pretty sure the secret service have covered up worse.

@JLeslie

There’s owing or owning stock in a company, then there’s putting your name on it. If slapping your name on something isn’t explicit approval and endorsement of it then I don’t know what is.

I’ll happily donate a couple of grams of coke to Trump, if it means his head might explode on national TV.

@Darth_Algar Hypocrisy is everywhere. I’m not trying to defend Trump, only saying it’s not uncommon and even some of the people held up as great do the same things Trump does. Buffet takes advantage of the tax laws too. The difference is he has been an advocate to change them. I’ve been known to say I lean towards getting rid of affirmative action and quotes in at least some realms, but while its there I tell my niece and nephew to use it.

I think smoking is terrible, but I wish I had bought RJ Reynolds stock 10 years ago when a friend told me to. The line I draw is I don’t like the idea of owning healthcare related stocks.

@jca

As a law enforcement agency they are rather limited in scope. Their scope as an LAE is financial – covering things like money counterfeiting and securities fraud. Drug enforcement isn’t within their scope. Nor are they going to arrest the people they are protecting.

@JLeslie

Ok. Let me know when Buffet comes out with a “Buffet’s Tax Evader Deluxe” software package.

Trump and drugs, I cannot see, trump and insider trading or using under aged hookers, I think that would be more plausible.

@Darth_Algar: I said they wouldn’t arrest the person they’re protecting. I said they CAN.

@cazzie . I used to be an emergency veterinarian technician. For 9 yrs. That was my passion, but it didn’t work out. It was very physically and emotionally draining. It took an amazing toll on my health, and my social life. I wouldn’t trade the sacrifices for anything though.

As far as my current main job (I have a few, ) I’ve been frank that my position is the HOS ( head of security ) at a medium, to large music venue. I hate violence. I hate dealing with people. But it is what I’m good at.

I am a SLED officer,which essentially makes me,or gives me the ‘power’ of LEO. I don’t carry cuffs, or weapons though. And those who are under my direction are held to the strictest standards, in regards to violence. My group is a flagship of our company, and how to act, or not to act. As I’ve said before, my men are told that violence is to be considered a failure on their, and my part.

I don’t have ,well carry, a badge, and I don’t usually arrest people, or treat people like shit. I’ve worked along side narcotics units before,and other divisions, but I am an anomaly in LE. I don’t consider myself part of ‘the current problem. ’

But I can’t say I’m not a hypocrite (at least sometimes, ) and I don’t enjoy my job. I try not to hurt anyone. I hate fighting. It’s just ,what I’m good at.

If I were smaller,I’d still be roofing. A hellish,and dangerous, but lucrative job. I did it when I was a lanky young man. I have a different body type now.

It ruins my night when I have to be mean to people, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.

Yes. I hurt people for money…. Sometimes…. It pays my bills though. Maybe l’m like a prostitute. I sell what I have…. My body type,and skills lends itself to my current profession.

If I could pay my bills working at a book store,I would.

I’m just trying to make it.

I’m sorry…

No sorry….. I have vet techs in my close family…... it’s a love thing.

No. Trump can smoke dope, shoot up or snort all the heroin he can get, and his federal bodyguards will avert (or pretend to avert) their eyes. They would also keep their mouths tightly shut about whatever transpired.

@Seek photo caption:

Say hello to my little hands…

Hahhahahaha

It sounds like you try to do the job correctly, @MrGrimm888, which means not hurting people who might hurt the people who pay for your protection. And we all have failures sometimes. I’d say you’re good, as long as you don’t have an accidentally-on-purpose failure just because you enjoy it.

@CWOTUS . I never enjoy hurting people. There are many in my profession that do. But none under my command. I don’t tolerate that mindset.

@MrGrimm888 So what happens to employee if the client overdoses and dies under their watch? Won’t they face criminal charges?

@Pandora .Depending on the circumstances. Probably they would face questioning, at least. Or might be a person of interest if the police couldn’t find the bodyguard after discovering the body.

You could claim ignorance of the client’s drug abuse. That’s what I might do. There are many grey situations in executive protection. Especially if you have an asshole for a client. And like I said, lots of wealthy people are into shady stuff.

Some hire ‘protection ’ because they’re scam artists,or they’re wanted by people higher up the food chain. Or have enemies. Many hire after an incident. So then, you’re up against a stalker, or ex lover,etc.

It’s hard to protect people from themselves though. Many have access to street drugs, or almost worse now, prescription opiods or benzo’s.

I don’t use guns much anymore. And the training/certification is similar to advanced military training. With different physical requirements, and tactical weapons use, and cover formations. Stunt driving limousines, and CPR.
I’m getting too old for run and shoot courses. Best left for current, or former military.

Most of our highest level guys do work in Somalia, Indonesia, Pakistan etc. They are usually working in groups, highly armed, and in very,very high risk situations. Lots of money,but it borders on mercinary work.

People we protect in those countries don’t have to worry about drug laws.

Yes, @MrGrimm888, I completely got that you don’t like to hurt people. If my earlier response conveyed a different understanding, then the error was mine.

Gotcha. Just wanted to be crystal clear.