Chambana Sun

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) thinks the U.S. Secret Service should be spending a lot more time in town in the wake of a mock assassination of President Donald Trump at a recent fundraiser for state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago).

“I would hope the Secret Service would address this,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “I think they should pay a visit to Sandoval and every person who attended that fundraiser. They were all there, and this is despicable, un-American and shows a total lack of respect for the president.”

Several media outlets have reported during an Aug. 16 MAS Havana Nights Golf Clasico fundraiser for Sandoval at Klein Creek Gold Club in Winfield, a still unnamed man posed with a fake rifle pointed at a person in a costume of Trump wearing traditional Mexican clothing. The photos were later posted to social media.

Besides issuing a public apology, Sandoval has insisted he had nothing to do with the incident and wasn’t aware plans were made for it to be staged.

Caulkins doesn’t seem so convinced.

“Who brought the fake rifle, how did it get there?” he said. “Was this guy the only person there with a fake rifle? There has been no investigation, no details. Again, there seems to be one law for them and another set for Republicans.”

Caulkins said he also finds fault with the way Democratic leaders have handled the situation.

“By not stripping him of his committees or expelling him from the Senate, the Democrats are giving him tacit giving him approval for what he did,” he said. “It’s bad for this country and bad for this state. It’s certainly bad for the legislature to be this reckless when it comes to something so important.”