A Secret Service agent has been put on administrative leave amid accusations of sexually assaulting a staff member from Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign team.
According to a report by Daily Mail Online, the incident allegedly occurred during a recent advance planning and security trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The trip was intended to prepare for an event that ultimately did not take place.
The alleged assault happened while Harris staffers were dining and drinking at a local restaurant. Four sources within the Secret Service community spoke to Real Clear Politics about the incident, claiming that there were witnesses present during the inappropriate interaction.
The accused agent was reportedly called to the Secret Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., and ordered to meet with investigators from the Inspections Division on Monday.
One source stated that the agent in question was heavily intoxicated and was forcibly removed from a Harris aide's hotel room by colleagues. The agent then allegedly passed out in the hallway, where photographs were taken of him.
In response to these allegations, a Secret Service spokesman stated:
The U.S. Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating a misconduct allegation involving an employee. The Secret Service holds its personnel to the highest standards. The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
This incident comes at a time when the Secret Service is already under intense scrutiny following two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump within a span of just two months.
A recent Senate report revealed a series of failures by the USSS that allowed would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks to successfully land a shot in Trump's right ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
The report concluded that the failures leading up to the rally were "foreseeable, preventable, and directly related to the events resulting in the assassination attempt that day."
These recent events have raised serious questions about the agency's operational effectiveness and internal protocols.
Congress is now considering allocating additional funds to the Secret Service to bolster staffing and enhance counterattack measures. However, some Republicans argue that an internal overhaul is needed before increasing the agency's budget.
The Senate report also uncovered that even with additional resources, the Secret Service engaged in questionable actions that led to security failures at the Trump rally. These included denying specific on-the-ground requests for additional drone capabilities and a Counter Assault Team liaison.
The Secret Service is facing allegations of sexual assault by one of its agents against a Kamala Harris campaign staffer. This incident occurs amidst ongoing scrutiny following recent assassination attempts on former President Trump. The agency has placed the accused agent on administrative leave pending investigation while broader concerns about operational effectiveness and internal protocols continue to mount.
