US Secret Service: Holding the Protectors Accountable

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) will hold a hearing tomorrow that will examine recent and longstanding problems at the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), including a recent March 4^th incident at the White House.

The Committee originally invited four officers on duty before and during the March 4^th incident to answer questions at the hearing. Upon receiving news that USSS would not provide these witnesses, Chairman Jason Chaffetz and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings issued the following statement:

“It has been nearly three weeks since senior agents disrupted a crime scene involving an alleged bomb outside of the White House Complex with the President in the residence.  At a briefing last week, Director Clancy was unable to provide adequate answers tobasic questions surrounding the incident.  It is extremely disappointing that agents with first-hand knowledge of the March 4^th event have not been allowed to appear before this Committee.  In order to conduct proper oversight and initiate proper reforms, fundamental questions still need to be answered by this agency.”

HEARING BACKGROUND:

• On March 4, 2015,  high-ranking Secret Service agents, who were allegedly drinking and driving after a retirement party for a colleague, drove through a temporary barricade within feet of a suspicious package near the White House.  The two agents were not given a sobriety test and were allowed to leave the scene.

• On March 17, 2015, Director Joseph Clancy briefed Members of Congress about the incident.

The Committee previously held a hearing on February 12, 2015, where they heard recommendations from members of the U.S. Secret Service Protective Mission Panel on ways to improve the agency.