According to a Fox News report, the U.S. Secret Service apologized to a Massachusetts salon owner after agents broke into her building and used the bathroom without permission before a Vice President Kamala Harris fundraiser last week.
Alicia Powers, the salon owner, said the agents taped over her security cameras, picked the lock and allowed various people to use the bathroom over a two-hour period despite her not being informed about their plans.
Powers, who had agreed to close her salon for the event, described the situation as "chaotic" and said she felt the Secret Service had overstepped its bounds. The agency has since been in contact with Powers, and a representative from the Boston field office called to apologize, acknowledging that the agents' actions were inappropriate.
The intrusion came to light before a scheduled fundraising event for Vice President Kamala Harris. Although Powers was aware of the necessity of closing her salon for security reasons during the event, the Secret Service did not inform her about these additional actions. The agency's operatives taped over her security equipment and picked the lock to gain entry.
This incident has highlighted significant breaches of standard protocol, whereby admittance of a Secret Service spokeswoman, their personnel would not normally instruct entry without the owner's consent.
Brian Smith, the landlord of the building, confirmed that neither he nor any co-owners had authorized the Secret Service to enter or use the premises. This acknowledgment came amid reports that raised questions about the agency's respect for private properties during security operations.
Following the exposure of the incident via a Business Insider report, Powers received an apology from the Boston field office of the Secret Service.
The agency admitted that their actions were inappropriate and against the usual protocol. They extend formal regrets to both the salon owner and the landlord for the disruptions caused.
Alicia Powers shared more about the ordeal, emphasizing the disorder that ensued:
There were several people in and out for about an hour-and-a-half—just using my bathroom, the alarms going off, using my counter, with no permission. And then when they were done using the bathroom for two hours, they left, and left my building completely unlocked, and did not take the tape off the camera.
The incident has stirred concerns about the balance between necessary security measures for high-profile events and the rights and operations of local businesses. Powers, while understanding the need for security, lamented the chaotic manner in which it was conducted and the lack of communication from the Secret Service.
Reflecting on how things might have been different, Powers mentioned, "Whoever was visiting, whether it was a celebrity or not, I probably would've opened the door and made them coffee and brought in donuts to make it a great afternoon for them. But they didn't even dare to ask for permission. They just helped themselves."
In response to the community and media outreach, Melissa McKenzie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Secret Service, stated their commitment to maintaining cordial relations with business partners and clarified that the breach of protocol was not typical of the agency’s operations.
This incident has initiated discussions on the expectations and legalities of security operations within private properties, particularly when dealing with government or high-profile entities. Both Powers and Smith have been left to manage the public and private implications of an event meant for security, yet felt by them in violation of their rights.
