In 1965, Congress authorized the Secret Service to protect former presidents and their spouses for their lifetime, unless they decline the protection. Recently, Congress limited the protection of former presidents and their spouses (elected after January 1, 1997) to 10 years after leaving office. President Clinton, who was elected in 1996, will be the last president to receive lifelong protection from the Secret Service.

The statement contains a critical error about timing. Bill Clinton was re-elected in 1996 (his second term), but he was originally elected in 1992, which is before the January 1, 1997 cutoff. The 1994 law limiting protection to 10 years applied to presidents elected after January 1, 1997. Since Clinton's presidency began in 1993, he falls under the pre-1997 rules and would receive lifetime protection regardless of when he left office.