Judicial Watch demands answers from Secret Service, sues Homeland Security over Trump's safety

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump found himself in the middle of a difficult situation when a group of Code Pink protestors heckled him at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab. 

The president’s Secret Service personnel were criticized by the same Judicial Watch as reported by The New York Post on Saturday, December 27, 2025. The publication stated that Tom Fitton, the president of the organization, expressed concern over Trump’s safety. 

Judicial Watch sues Secret Service over failure to protect Donald Trump

The Judicial Watch posted its lawsuit against the US Secret Service on its website on December 26, 2025. The FOIA lawsuit was filed earlier this month, on December 18, urging Homeland Security to provide communication records related to the Code Pink protestors who heckled Trump on September 9, 2025.

Describing the incident on its website, Judicial Watch said that Donald Trump had a dinner scheduled with JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and other officials when the activists started to protest inside the restaurant and chanted slogans while 'waving Palestinian flags.'

Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, chimed in on the incident during a recent conversation with The New York Post and said that Secret Service allowed the protestors to get 'within arm’s length' of Donald Trump with 'knives' and who knew what else.

He added that Trump was 'almost killed twice' while referring to the previous attempted assassination of the president, while under the protection of the Secret Service. He added that it 'walked him into a potentially dangerous ambush' at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.

Chris Swecker, former FBI Assistant Director, also criticized the  Secret Service over its 'unbelievable security lapse.' He said that he couldn’t believe that they let 'random people' sit so close to the President, adding that the situation was 'crazy.'

“That’s like the days when Abraham Lincoln would ride down Pennsylvania Avenue in his coach and buggy with no protection,” he said. 

Member of Code Pink describes September protest

Soon after the protest at the restaurant in September 2025, a member of Code Pink, Olivia DiCNucci, spoke to Washingtonian about how it was carried out. She said she had heard rumors about Donald Trump dining at the restaurant in question. She said that she reached out to her fellow activists and made a last-minute reservation.

She said that they arrived at the restaurant an hour before and were escorted to their seats, which turned out to be next to Trump and his associates.

She added that as soon as the group sat down, the protestors started chanting, “Free DC. Free Palestine. Trump is the Hitler of our time,” before they were escorted out of the restaurant by Secret Service.