GOP convention

Security officials brace for GOP convention amid Trump protests, Brussels attack

They say meticulous plans are being laid, but one ex-law enforcement official says the risk factor is 'without a doubt' higher.

By Anna Palmer

The campaign headlines alone — featuring tense protests and fistfights, and a front-runner warning of riots — are cause enough for concern. Add two major terrorist attacks abroad in four months into the cauldron, including Tuesday’s bombings in Brussels, and it’s not hard to imagine the potential for chaos at the Republican National Convention this summer.

Still, convention organizers and security officials say they’re ready to execute a plan that was in the works before fisticuffs broke out regularly at Donald Trump’s rallies.

Numerous officials involved with convention planning told Politico they’ve been preparing meticulously for months, mapping out every contingency. An array of law enforcement agencies, from the Secret Service to the Department of Homeland Security, are involved, in concert with the city of Cleveland’s own efforts to keep the event safe.

The security blueprint already took into account worst-case scenarios, from mass riots to terrorist attacks, among other possible crises. The convention is expected to draw some 50,000 attendees, along with potentially tens of thousands of protesters.

“The Secret Service carries out its responsibilities by relying on a core strategy of forming partnerships with all participating law enforcement, public safety officials and military agencies,” said Kevin Dye, a Secret Service spokesman. “This NSSE [National Special Security Event] will be no different, as there are numerous partners involved in the planning and implementation of the overall security plan.”

Still, Juliette Kayyem, former assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs at the DHS, said that “without a doubt” the global environment and Republican Party friction over Trump increase the risk factor at the convention.

“People who might be activated by what’s going on in the world would view the convention as a desirable target because everyone is there and everyone is watching,” Kayyem said. “Both Trump critics and supporters are going into near hand-to-hand combat, [so] this will also be a very high-tension convention if there are any political ‘shenanigans,’ as Donald Trump says.”

The DHS is tasked with designating National Special Security Events — essentially gatherings of national or international significance that could be a potential target for terrorism or other criminal acts. Pope Francis’ recent visit to the United States fell into that category.

“Our goal,” Dye added, “is to develop and implement, with the numerous participating agencies, a seamless security plan that will create a safe and secure environment for our protectees, other dignitaries, event participants and the general public.”

Dye declined to comment on how the Brussels attacks might affect convention security plans.

Trump, the likely GOP nominee, has seen an uptick in physical altercations at his rallies. Earlier this month, he canceled a campaign event in Chicago after protesters swarmed the venue. Trump has come under criticism from fellow Republicans and others for not doing more to discourage violence and otherwise dial down the temperature at his events.

Trump on Tuesday provided more fodder to critics who say he’s stoking ethnic and racial tensions when, after the Brussels attacks, he repeated his desire to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.

“That’s how you prevent it, not allowing the people in,” he said. “There has to be a moratorium.”

Democrats will also likely face security challenges at their convention in Philadelphia. Black Lives Matter protesters have disrupted Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders rallies over the past several months.

Intelligence gathering for the Republican convention has already begun. Law enforcement agencies are monitoring social media posting and tracking protest groups such as Black Lives Matter, which have disrupted Trump rallies over the past several weeks. The Secret Service is even using its Twitter account to warn users about their commentary. The agency tweeted recently, “Watch what you say on Social Media!” with a link to a news story about how agents visited a man who joked about sending a bomb when Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were visiting his region.

Convention spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said the Secret Service is serving as the point law enforcement agency to keep the convention, other events and the community secure.

“They are working with local, state and federal partners who together are developing security plans leading up to the national convention,” Kukowski wrote in an email.

Earlier this month, the city of Cleveland solicited bids on its contracting website for interlocking steel barriers and 2,000 sets of riot gear, including collapsible batons, as it prepares to spend the $50 million federal grant set aside to pay for convention security needs. Cleveland is also looking to recruit police officers from other cities to help bolster its ranks to 5,000 officers.

A spokesman for Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said increased violence at Trump's rallies hasn't altered the city's requests for acquiring security gear. "We're not going to change it right now," Dan Williams said.

Cleveland already has a complicated history with its police force and racially charged incidents, including the fatal shooting in 2014 of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, which led to a public backlash and protests.

Political conventions spurring large protests are nothing new, of course. The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago is the most infamous example in modern history, but New York's Republican convention in 2004 drew some 100,000 protesters. New York City paid $17.9 million to protesters to settle civil rights claims after the convention.

While there was a large law enforcement presence at the 2012 Republican convention in Tampa, Florida, only about 1,000 protesters showed up.

The National Lawyers Guild held a gathering last weekend in Cleveland where more than 100 lawyers and activists met to discuss political issues for protesters and legal strategy for those who may be arrested.

So far, the violence at Trump rallies doesn’t appear to have caused corporate sponsors to get cold feet about the convention. Several tech companies and others like Coca-Cola and Xerox have said they will continue to contribute to the Republican host committee, despite protests from groups like Color of Change.

Several event planners who are organizing private panels, industry gatherings and concerts around the convention said they are increasing security to stave off any issues with attendees looking to disrupt activities.

"In Tampa, we ramped [security] up and we just didn't take anything for granted," said Rob Jennings, a veteran convention event organizer. "It's the same for Cleveland — prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We're working closely with Cleveland police and a private security firm in Cleveland. We're just going to do everything we can."

Hotels also plan to increase security during the convention. Metro Cleveland Security Operations Manager Terry Zacharyj said the company, which provides security guards, armed guards and off-duty police, has seen an increase in business from several hotels to “provide a safe environment.”

Still, Zacharyj said he's not expecting major problems despite what he's seen at Trump rallies lately.

“I’ve been here for 37 years, and I do not see anything worse than what we would have at a Cleveland Brown football game," Zacharyj said. "Maybe less drinking for the convention."