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Secret service slip-ups: a handy guide to the agency's most famous blunders Secret service slip-ups: a handy guide to the agency's most famous blunders
(about 4 hours later)
The elite agency charged with protecting the president and his family has come under fire recently after it was revealed that a White House trespasser managed to make it much deeper into the mansion than initially disclosed. The elite agency charged with protecting the president and his family has come under fire after it was revealed that a White House trespasser managed to make it much deeper into the mansion than initially disclosed.
But the US secret service’s history of blunders extends much further back than this week. Over the past five years, there have been a series of 16 cases of intruders scaling the White House fence, and a 2011 incident involving a White House shooting while President Obama’s daughter was home.But the US secret service’s history of blunders extends much further back than this week. Over the past five years, there have been a series of 16 cases of intruders scaling the White House fence, and a 2011 incident involving a White House shooting while President Obama’s daughter was home.
Here are a list of the agency’s top slip-ups and scandals from FDR to Obama: Here are a list of the agency’s top slip-ups and scandals from FDR to the present:
2011 White House shooting2011 White House shooting
New details recently emerged in the Washington Post that the secret service mishandled the investigation after a man shot at the White House while Obama’s youngest daughter, Sasha, was home. According to the Post, at least seven bullets hit the building: one pierced a window on the second floor, another hit a nearby window frame and several more pinged the roof. New details emerged recently in the Washington Post that the secret service mishandled the investigation after a man shot at the White House while Obama’s youngest daughter, Sasha, was home. According to the Post, at least seven bullets hit the building: one pierced a window on the second floor, another hit a nearby window frame and several more pinged the roof.
The president and first lady were not in the mansion at the time, but Sasha, and Michelle’s mother, Marian Robinson, were. Malia was reportedly expected to return at any moment.The president and first lady were not in the mansion at the time, but Sasha, and Michelle’s mother, Marian Robinson, were. Malia was reportedly expected to return at any moment.
An agent stationed upstairs apparently responded to the shooting, but was ordered to stand down by a supervisor who said no shots were fired. Secret service agents only realized the mansion had been hit four days later, when a housekeeper found broken glass on the floor.An agent stationed upstairs apparently responded to the shooting, but was ordered to stand down by a supervisor who said no shots were fired. Secret service agents only realized the mansion had been hit four days later, when a housekeeper found broken glass on the floor.
The gunman, troubled 21-year-old Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, was eventually arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison.The gunman, troubled 21-year-old Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, was eventually arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Partying in AmsterdamPartying in Amsterdam
In March 2013, three agents who were assigned to the president’s security detail in Amsterdam were sent home after a hotel employee reportedly found an agent drunk in the hallway a day before Obama arrived.In March 2013, three agents who were assigned to the president’s security detail in Amsterdam were sent home after a hotel employee reportedly found an agent drunk in the hallway a day before Obama arrived.
The hotel reported the drunk agent to the US embassy in the Netherlands and the agents were immediately placed on administrative leave.The hotel reported the drunk agent to the US embassy in the Netherlands and the agents were immediately placed on administrative leave.
Reports also emerged that same month that two of the agency’s men had drunkenly wrecked their rental car in the Florida Keys. The agency instituted a new rule that employees must be sober for at least 12 hours before a shift begins, the Washington Post reported.Reports also emerged that same month that two of the agency’s men had drunkenly wrecked their rental car in the Florida Keys. The agency instituted a new rule that employees must be sober for at least 12 hours before a shift begins, the Washington Post reported.
Colombian prostitution scandalColombian prostitution scandal
In 2012, a prostitution scandal involving the president’s security detail tarnished the agency’s reputation and embarrassed the president, who was in Colombia for the annual Summit of the Americas.In 2012, a prostitution scandal involving the president’s security detail tarnished the agency’s reputation and embarrassed the president, who was in Colombia for the annual Summit of the Americas.
A dozen secret service agents were implicated in the scandal, which was made public after reports emerged of a dispute over payment between a woman and a secret service agent in the resort of Cartagena.A dozen secret service agents were implicated in the scandal, which was made public after reports emerged of a dispute over payment between a woman and a secret service agent in the resort of Cartagena.
At the time, the incident raised concerns that the agents’ trysts might have jeopardized the president’s security, leading to several investigations and questions over its culture. It was later determined that the president’s safety was not at risk.At the time, the incident raised concerns that the agents’ trysts might have jeopardized the president’s security, leading to several investigations and questions over its culture. It was later determined that the president’s safety was not at risk.
In the aftermath of the scandal, the agency tightened its standards of conduct, which included banning agents from “non-reputable establishments” including strip clubs, and bringing foreign nationals to their hotel rooms, CBS reported.In the aftermath of the scandal, the agency tightened its standards of conduct, which included banning agents from “non-reputable establishments” including strip clubs, and bringing foreign nationals to their hotel rooms, CBS reported.
White House gatecrashersWhite House gatecrashers
In 2009, a woman being filmed for Bravo’s The Real Housewives of DC and her husband finessed their way past two security checkpoints to attend Obama’s first state dinner, uninvited.In 2009, a woman being filmed for Bravo’s The Real Housewives of DC and her husband finessed their way past two security checkpoints to attend Obama’s first state dinner, uninvited.
Michaele and Tareq Salahi managed to enter the state dinner for then- Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, despite having to show a photo ID. Michaele and Tareq Salahi managed to enter the state dinner for then-Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, despite having to show a photo ID.
The show’s cameramen reportedly followed Michaele, who wore a traditional Indian sari, as she prepared for the dinner. The cameramen did not follow the couple into the house, but in the episode featuring the evening, the Salahis recount the dinner and meeting Obama.The show’s cameramen reportedly followed Michaele, who wore a traditional Indian sari, as she prepared for the dinner. The cameramen did not follow the couple into the house, but in the episode featuring the evening, the Salahis recount the dinner and meeting Obama.
Embarrassingly, there are photos of the uninvited couple posing with Joe Biden and other attendees. The Salahis have stuck to their story that they received an official invitation, but the White House denies these claims.Embarrassingly, there are photos of the uninvited couple posing with Joe Biden and other attendees. The Salahis have stuck to their story that they received an official invitation, but the White House denies these claims.
Emergency landingEmergency landing
One of the most outrageous attempts to breach White House security occurred in February 1974, when US soldier Robert Preston stole a helicopter from Fort Meade in Maryland and flew it to the White House.One of the most outrageous attempts to breach White House security occurred in February 1974, when US soldier Robert Preston stole a helicopter from Fort Meade in Maryland and flew it to the White House.
Preston hovered over the White House for several minutes before landing on the south lawn. The secret service did not initially attempt to shoot down the aircraft, according to a White House security review. Preston took off again and flew back toward Maryland. He was then chased by Maryland state police helicopters, one of which he outmanoeuvred. Preston hovered over the White House for several minutes before landing on the south lawn. The secret service did not initially attempt to shoot down the aircraft, according to a White House security review. Preston took off again and flew back toward Maryland. He was then chased by Maryland state police helicopters, one of which he out-maneuvered.
Preston then flew back to the mansion, and as he lowered the helicopter, secret service agents sprayed the aircraft with shotguns and sub-machine gunfire. Slightly injured, Preston quickly landed the stolen helicopter and was apprehended.Preston then flew back to the mansion, and as he lowered the helicopter, secret service agents sprayed the aircraft with shotguns and sub-machine gunfire. Slightly injured, Preston quickly landed the stolen helicopter and was apprehended.
President Nixon and his wife were not home at the time.President Nixon and his wife were not home at the time.
Pass the popcornPass the popcorn
One evening in the 1940s, Franklin D Roosevelt’s eldest son, Jimmy, was at the White House, on leave from second world war duty. The story goes that after dinner he and his parents decided to watch a movie. When the credits rolled and the lights flicked on, a neatly-dressed stranger was in the room standing next to the 32nd president of the United States. One evening in the 1940s, Franklin D Roosevelt’s eldest son, Jimmy, was at the White House, on leave from second world war duty. The story goes that after dinner he and his parents decided to watch a movie. When the credits rolled and the lights flicked on, a neatly dressed stranger was in the room standing next to the 32nd president of the United States.
Harry Truman’s daughter Margaret, who wrote about the incident in her book The President’s House, a history of the White House, said: “Instead of brandishing a weapon, however, the interloper asked for the president’s autograph.”Harry Truman’s daughter Margaret, who wrote about the incident in her book The President’s House, a history of the White House, said: “Instead of brandishing a weapon, however, the interloper asked for the president’s autograph.”
FDR gave the young man his autograph and the embarrassed secret service agents – whom the young man had to pass to enter the private area of the mansion – escorted him out of the building.FDR gave the young man his autograph and the embarrassed secret service agents – whom the young man had to pass to enter the private area of the mansion – escorted him out of the building.