Libertarian Party asks for national security briefings

The Libertarian Party wants its presidential ticket to receive national security briefings from the federal government, just as the Democratic and Republican nominees do. 

{mosads}While Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton began receiving briefings after officially accepting their nominations for president in July, it’s not typical for third-party candidates to take part. 

But the Libertarian Party argues that its nominee, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, should be eligible. 

“Even the federal government is in the business of attempting to pre-select voters’ choices for President and Vice-President,” Libertarian National Chairman Nicholas Sarwark wrote in a letter to the General Service Administration (GSA) Thursday.

“Three tickets will be on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, but only two are receiving taxpayer-funded national security briefings. That is just wrong, and we urge the GSA to provide the same information to Governor Johnson that is being given to Mr. Trump and Sec. Clinton.”

Under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, security briefings are provided to presidential candidates, if they choose to accept them. 

The law doesn’t specifically state that only major-party candidates can receive the briefings, but it does say they have to demonstrate a “significant level of public support” in national polls and be “realistically” considered contenders to be president and vice president. 

A third-party candidate hasn’t been included in the briefings since 1980, when independent candidate John Anderson received them, according to Time magazine.

Johnson is indeed on the ballot in all 50 states, an accomplishment that is often difficult for third-party candidates.

He has 8.3 percent support nationwide, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average.