Bedminster asks gov't to pay cost of protection for President-elect Trump

A local township is asking the federal government for money to protect President-elect Donald Trump. Bedminster, which only has a population of about 8,000, says it cannot afford to adequately protect

News 12 Staff

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Dec 23, 2016, 8:25 AM

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Updated 2,824 days ago

A local township is asking the federal government for money to protect President-elect Donald Trump.

Bedminster, which only has a population of about 8,000, says it cannot afford to adequately protect the president-elect.

The township is home to the Trump National Golf Course, where President-elect Trump held meetings last month to talk about his cabinet.

During the meetings, six police officers, out of only 16 officers from Bedminster, were required to be on duty at all times.

The three-day weekend cost Bedminster Township $3,500 in overtime.

Mayor Steve Parker projects it will cost the township over $250,000 over the course of a year.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance asked the United States attorney general for federal grants that residents want to see used to ease the taxpayers' share.

Mayor Parker says the township has applied for federal grants and says he is confident that his taxpayers won't have to pay the bill.

The mayor says his request for $250,000 that first year could be an overestimate or underestimate, depending on how often President-elect Trump comes to Bedminster.