The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) placed an airspace restriction around Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware and the U.S. Secret Service is reportedly stepping up security for Biden as the presidential candidate appears slated to win the 2020 presidential election.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) listed a number of recent temporary flight restrictions for “SECURITY” and “VIP” reasons in the area near Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, and a nearby convention center his campaign has been using in the last week. CNN anchor and national security correspondent Jim Sciutto also tweeted “New: A new restricted ‘national defense airspace’ has been put in place over presidential candidate Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware.”
New: A new restricted “national defense airspace” has been put in place over presidential candidate Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 6, 2020
Delaware Online reported a “SECURITY” restriction is set near Biden’s home on Barley Mill Road, and covers a 1-nautical-mile radius and an altitude of 1,000 feet. The restriction reported near Biden’s home is set to expire on Saturday.
Delaware online also reported a “VIP” restriction around the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, which the Biden campaign has used this week. The restricted zone extends 3 nautical miles and covers the air from the ground to a 2,999-foot altitude and is set to expire Friday.
The Washington Post reported the Secret Service called in additional agents to add to Biden’s security at the Chase Center. The Secret Service reportedly called in the additional agents after Biden’s campaign said on Thursday Biden would continue to use the convention center for at least another day.
The added security measures come as Biden appears close to securing the necessary 270 electoral college votes to win the presidency. As of Friday morning, Fox News has projected Biden as having 264 electoral college votes while maintaining a less than 12,000 vote lead in Nevada and having overtaken President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania by over 5,000 votes and in Georgia by about 1,100 votes. As the results stand, a win in any of the three remaining states would bring Biden across the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency.
Secret Service spokeswoman Catherine Milhoan declined to comment about the service’s security plans after being asked for comment by the Washington Post.
A Biden campaign aide also declined to comment.
According to the Washington Post, the Secret Service may wait until the electoral college meets in mid-December and certifies the electoral vote results before the Secret Service officially treats Biden as the president-elect.
Even before treating Biden as the president-elect, the Secret Service would likely feel duty-bound to increase Biden’s protection, according to a former agent who spoke with the Washington Post.
During the contested 2000 U.S. election between Republican George W. Bush and Democratic then-Vice President Al Gore, there was no president-elect for 36 days as the two candidates disputed the results of the vote in Florida. During that time, the Secret Service maintained protective details for both then-Vice President Gore and then-candidate Bush.
