Armed man impersonating US marshal arrested at RFK Jr. event

An armed man impersonating a U.S. marshal was arrested at a Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. campaign event on Friday, the candidate said.

Kennedy said a man with two holstered weapons carrying a U.S. Marshals badge and federal ID approached him at a Los Angeles campaign event on Friday. The man claimed to be part of Kennedy’s security detail. 

Kennedy said his security identified the man and apprehended him until Los Angeles Police arrived.

“I’m very grateful that alert and fast-acting protectors… spotted and detained an armed man who attempted to approach me at my Hispanic Heritage speech at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles tonight,” Kennedy posted on social media.

“I’m still entertaining a hope that President Biden will allow me Secret Service protection,” he added.

Los Angeles Police confirmed that the suspect, identified as Adrian Aispuro, was arrested for posing as a federal agent at the event. The department said the man did not brandish the weapon or threaten anyone at the event.

His bail is set at $35,000 bail, according to LAPD jail records.

Kennedy has long pushed for secret service protection, claiming that withholding the protection is proof that Biden is not properly entertaining his primary challenge.

The Biden administration denied his secret service request in June, Kennedy claimed.

The Secret Service is authorized to protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates within 120 days of a general presidential election, though usually only does so for determined “major” candidates. 

It would be unusual for a primary candidate to get secret service protection this early in the primary process.

The Homeland Security secretary, in consultation with an advisory committee of House and Senate leadership, determines which candidates are in that “major” category.

Kennedy’s long-shot primary challenge to Biden has weakened in recent months. Following a slight surge in interest this summer, just 9 percent of Democrats say they will now vote for Kennedy, according to recent polling.