This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29452829
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Secret Service director Julia Pierson resigns | Secret Service director Julia Pierson resigns |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The head of the US Secret Service, tasked with guarding US President Barack Obama, has resigned following several high-profile security lapses. | The head of the US Secret Service, tasked with guarding US President Barack Obama, has resigned following several high-profile security lapses. |
| Julia Pierson offered her resignation to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday. | Julia Pierson offered her resignation to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday. |
| A day earlier, she faced angry questions in Congress about a major breach of White House security. | |
| News of another incident involving an armed man allowed in a lift with Mr Obama compounded calls for her to go. | |
| "Today Julia Pierson, the Director of the United States Secret Service, offered her resignation, and I accepted it," Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson wrote in a statement. | "Today Julia Pierson, the Director of the United States Secret Service, offered her resignation, and I accepted it," Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson wrote in a statement. |
| "I salute her 30 years of distinguished service to the Secret Service and the Nation." | "I salute her 30 years of distinguished service to the Secret Service and the Nation." |
| Analysis - Jon Sopel, BBC North America editor | |
| In the immediate aftermath, the former head of the Secret Service, Julia Pierson, praised the officers on duty that night at the White House for their extraordinary restraint. | |
| "Restraint?" some commentators and lawmakers have exclaimed in disbelief. | |
| In the era of the suicide bomber is restraint really what you want when an intruder armed with a knife has penetrated into the inner sanctum of the leader of the free world? | |
| Secret Service asleep at the wheel | |
| Mr Obama also expressed his appreciation to Ms Pierson for her long history of public service, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday. | Mr Obama also expressed his appreciation to Ms Pierson for her long history of public service, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday. |
| Ms Pierson offered her resignation because "she believed it was in the best interests of the agency to which she has dedicated her career", Mr Earnest added. | Ms Pierson offered her resignation because "she believed it was in the best interests of the agency to which she has dedicated her career", Mr Earnest added. |
| Joseph Clancy, in charge of the presidential protective division of the agency, will take over. | |
| High-ranking members of the US Congress had been calling for Ms Pierson's resignation in the wake of her testimony before a House oversight committee on Tuesday. | High-ranking members of the US Congress had been calling for Ms Pierson's resignation in the wake of her testimony before a House oversight committee on Tuesday. |
| Litany of lapses | Litany of lapses |
| Nov 2009: A couple filming a reality show make it past Secret Service checkpoints into a dinner for visiting Indian prime minister | Nov 2009: A couple filming a reality show make it past Secret Service checkpoints into a dinner for visiting Indian prime minister |
| Nov 2011: A man parks a car directly south of the White House and opens fire with a rifle, striking the residence at least seven times. Secret Service supervisors fail to realise the White House has been struck for four days - until a housekeeper discovers the damage. | Nov 2011: A man parks a car directly south of the White House and opens fire with a rifle, striking the residence at least seven times. Secret Service supervisors fail to realise the White House has been struck for four days - until a housekeeper discovers the damage. |
| April 2012: Eleven Secret Service employees preparing for the president's visit to the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Columbia, bring sex workers back to their hotel. | April 2012: Eleven Secret Service employees preparing for the president's visit to the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Columbia, bring sex workers back to their hotel. |
| Nov 2013: A senior supervisor on the president's protective detail starts a row after demanding access to a woman's room at the Hay Adams Hotel overlooking the White House. He leaves behind in the room a bullet from his service weapon. | Nov 2013: A senior supervisor on the president's protective detail starts a row after demanding access to a woman's room at the Hay Adams Hotel overlooking the White House. He leaves behind in the room a bullet from his service weapon. |
| March 2014: Three agents on the elite counter assault team are sent home from the Netherlands, where they have been preparing for a presidential visit, after one is found passed out drunk in a hallway. | March 2014: Three agents on the elite counter assault team are sent home from the Netherlands, where they have been preparing for a presidential visit, after one is found passed out drunk in a hallway. |
| 16 September 2014: An armed security contractor with a felony criminal record is allowed to board a lift with the president in a government building in Atlanta. | 16 September 2014: An armed security contractor with a felony criminal record is allowed to board a lift with the president in a government building in Atlanta. |
| 19 September 2014: Omar Gonzalez, a troubled Iraq War veteran, scales a fence at the White House, evades agents during his dash across the lawn, and enters the White House through an unlocked and unalarmed door. | 19 September 2014: Omar Gonzalez, a troubled Iraq War veteran, scales a fence at the White House, evades agents during his dash across the lawn, and enters the White House through an unlocked and unalarmed door. |
| There she acknowledged the Secret Service security plan was "not executed properly" during a recent breach of the White House. | There she acknowledged the Secret Service security plan was "not executed properly" during a recent breach of the White House. |
| On 19 September, suspect Omar Gonzalez, 42, allegedly scaled a fence and gained entry to the famed US residence while carrying a knife. | On 19 September, suspect Omar Gonzalez, 42, allegedly scaled a fence and gained entry to the famed US residence while carrying a knife. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to charges against him, including entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. | On Wednesday, Mr Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to charges against him, including entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. |
| Prosecutors say he jumped the main fence around the White House and gained entry inside through an unlocked door, then barrelled past a guard and ran into the East Room before being tackled. | Prosecutors say he jumped the main fence around the White House and gained entry inside through an unlocked door, then barrelled past a guard and ran into the East Room before being tackled. |
| Mr Obama and his family were not at the White House when the intrusion happened, having departed about 10 minutes earlier by helicopter. | Mr Obama and his family were not at the White House when the intrusion happened, having departed about 10 minutes earlier by helicopter. |
| The incident is the latest in a string of security lapses overseen by the Secret Service, tasked with guarding the Obama family. | The incident is the latest in a string of security lapses overseen by the Secret Service, tasked with guarding the Obama family. |
| On 16 September, Mr Obama is said to have rode in an Atlanta lift with an armed security contractor who had assault convictions. | On 16 September, Mr Obama is said to have rode in an Atlanta lift with an armed security contractor who had assault convictions. |
| This contravened a protocol that only members of the Secret Service are allowed to carry weapons in the presence of the president. | This contravened a protocol that only members of the Secret Service are allowed to carry weapons in the presence of the president. |