White House Blasts 3 MPLS Council Members Using Private Security

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany called out Minneapolis City Council members for using private security while they work to dismantle the city's police department.

"Three Democrat Minneapolis council members voted to abolish the police, while they themselves were getting a private security detail," McEnany said during Monday's news conference.

"That’s quite rich."

Following the death of George Floyd, a majority of the Minneapolis City Council members pledged to end the Minneapolis Police Department. President Donald Trump and Minnesota Republicans have lampooned the plan.

"Let’s stand for law and order, for peace in our streets, and against anarchy," McEnany added Monday. "This is President Trump’s vision for the future."

Minneapolis paid two private security firms $63,000 over the previous three weeks to protect Andrea Jenkins, Alondra Cano, and Phillipe Cunningham, reports the Star Tribune.

The payments were made after the unrest sparked by the death of Floyd began.

Cunningham said he accepted an offer for security from the city after receiving "numerous death threats."

On Friday, by a vote of 12-0, the council advanced a measure that would amend the city charter to remove the requirement for a police department.

Instead of a police department, the amended charter would require that the city maintain "a department of community safety and violence prevention."

"The City Council must establish, maintain, adequately fund, and consistently engage the public about a department of community safety and violence prevention, which will have responsibility for public safety services prioritizing a holistic, public health-oriented approach," the proposed charter reads.

Read more: Minneapolis Council Takes First Steps To Dismantle Police Dept.