In a letter obtained by NBC News, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has demanded that Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle personally intervene to move a planned protest zone further away from the site of the party's convention in Milwaukee this summer. The letter, sent by Todd Steggerda, counsel to the RNC, emphasizes the escalating demands by GOP officials to ensure the safety and security of convention attendees.

The RNC officials argue that the current plans would force delegates and other participants to come into close proximity with protesters on their way to the convention site. With less than two months before the Convention, the RNC urges Cheatle to take immediate action to address what they perceive as an unacceptable flaw in the design of the Security Perimeter.

According to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, the agency is confident in the security plan being developed and continues to work closely with federal, state, and local partners to ensure a safe event. Guglielmi stresses that publicly disclosing security information, as done in the letter, undermines the integrity of the security plan and compromises the safety of the convention, attendees, and the public.

The detailed map of the Secret Service's security perimeter, which encompasses the convention site and requires credentials and screening for access, has not been publicly released. However, reliable sources claim that Pere Marquette Park, the designated protest zone, falls outside this perimeter.

Citing recent safety concerns, including a man setting himself on fire outside former President Donald Trump's trial in New York and a suspicious package sent to the national committee, GOP officials firmly request the Secret Service to expand the security perimeter. Their main concern is to avoid potential confrontations between demonstrators and convention attendees as they enter and exit the Fiserv Forum, the venue for the convention.

In response, Steggerda's Thursday letter proposes expanding the security perimeter one block to the east, encompassing Pere Marquette Park, and designating Zeidler Union Square, about three-quarters of a mile south of Fiserv Forum, as the new protest zone. The RNC suggests that this adjustment would address the critical flaw in the current design by allowing peaceful assembly and demonstration while minimizing the risk of violence.

RNC and Secret Service officials were scheduled to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss various convention-related topics. In the letter, Steggerda emphasizes the urgency of taking prompt action to prevent unnecessary risks to convention attendees, highlighting the potential escalation of tensions and confrontation.

Pere Marquette Park was also the designated protest zone for the scaled-down 2020 Democratic National Convention due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Steggerda's proposal aims to solve the security issue while still ensuring the public's freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights near the convention site.

The Secret Service justifies the current security perimeter based on threat assessments, expressing a preference not to expand the restricted area more than necessary. However, further inaction by the agency would leave the decision in the hands of Milwaukee officials.

Responses from Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson's spokesman indicate their willingness to listen to all concerns raised by the involved parties. While some members of Milwaukee's Common Council believe that the current protest zone is adequate, RNC officials and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have expressed their concerns about the potential conflict between protestors and convention attendees if adjustments are not made.

With the convention set to take place from July 15-18, the RNC's demand for the Secret Service Director's personal intervention reflects the party's commitment to ensuring a safe and secure event, while also respecting the rights of peaceful demonstrators.