In the wake of Saturday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Governor Gavin Newsom is sending five dozen Highway Patrol and state police officers to help keep the calm at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
The political shockwaves of Saturday’s attempt to shoot Donald Trump are still reverberating, but thus far, party leaders on both the Democratic and Republican sides are issuing the standard perfunctory messages condemning political violence in all forms. That might change Monday night, as Trump is expected to give a speech on the matter at the opening night of the Republican National Convention, probably via video address.
But California Governor Gavin Newsom is taking the high road amidst the heightened tensions, as Bay Area News Group reports that Newsom is sending 61 California state law enforcement officers to the convention’s host city of Milwaukee, most of these being state Highway Patrol officers.
“Public safety transcends party lines,” Newsom said in a statement. “California is proud to support our law enforcement colleagues in Wisconsin during this important political event. Working together, we are helping to provide a safe and secure environment for all participants at the Republican National Convention.”
Newsom apparently made this request back in May, but the need for additional security at the convention is now obviously a more prominent issue. The officers are being provided through the state’s Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) which provides material support to neighboring states, usually in natural disaster situations.
Per the News Group, the officers will be from California Highway Patrol and other state law enforcement offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, and Long Beach. Newsom’s press releases says the officers' responsibilities will “include crowd management, traffic control and ensuring public safety throughout the duration of the convention.”
In other Republican Convention news, Politico reports that Trump has just picked Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential running mate. Trump confirmed the pick on Truth Social, and the official announcement is expected around 1:30 pm PT.
Related: Governor Newsom Doubling the Number of State Officers Deployed in SF Fentanyl Crackdown [SFist]
Image: ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 27: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) speaks to reporters in the spin room following the CNN Presidential Debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump at the McCamish Pavilion on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. President Biden and former President Trump are faced off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
