A pair of senior-level Secret Service agents crashed a government vehicle into a White House security barricade after drinking at a Washington, D.C., bar March 4.
The two agents, one of whom is a top member of the president’s protective detail, activated the car’s emergency lights and flashed their badges in order to pass through a section that was closed off due to a suspicious package. Just moments later the agents ran through security tape before smashing into several barricades.
Police officers at the scene wanted to detain the agents and conduct field sobriety tests, but a supervisor ordered the officers to release the agents, according to witnesses.
Agency spokesman Brian Leary has confirmed the Secret Service is aware of the misconduct allegations and that they “will fully cooperate” with the inspector general’s office. “If misconduct is identified, appropriate action will be taken based on established rules and regulations,” Leary said.
New agency director Joseph P. Clancy was appointed after the Secret Service suffered several security lapses at the White House, but some feel the new change in leadership is not enough.
“Although recent steps have been made to bring new leadership in at the highest levels, this incident begs the question of whether that is enough,” said Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) in a joint statement. “The fact that this event involved senior-level agents is not only embarrassing but exhibits a clear lack of judgment in a potentially dangerous situation.”
But this isn’t the first time the Secret Service has made headlines for partaking in the party scene. In April 2012, multiple Secret Service agents were investigated after allegedly attending a strip club in El Salvador.
