Officials Cite Potential For Violence At GOP Convention
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Senior U.S. national security officials said they are worried about the potential for violence at the Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland next week.
During congressional testimony Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he's concerned that demonstrations outside the convention hall may get out of hand.
He told the House Homeland Security Committee there will be 4,000 U.S. government security personnel in Cleveland.
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"There is a certain level of First Amendment protected activity that is guaranteed to demonstrators at national political conventions," Johnson said. "They will be confined, it will be roped off in an isolated area, but it is something that will have a lot of security."
Johnson said he will be inspecting the security around the convention hall during a visit Friday. He said there are similar concerns about the Democratic convention to be held in Philadelphia. He'll be visiting that site next week.
"We have been planning and preparing for both conventions now for over a year," he said.
FBI Director James Comey said anytime there is a large, national event there is concern that radical people and groups may be drawn to it.
On Thursday, the convention released a partial list of those slated to speak at the event, which is set to begin Monday.
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