Secret Service Agents Suspended Over White House Party-Crashing Incident
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
12/3/09
During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Thursday on last month's security breach at a state dinner, Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan said the agents involved in allowing Michaele and Tareq Salahi to enter without an invitation have been suspended with pay while an investigation continues.
"The individuals who have been identified have been put on administrative leave," he said. Once the investigation is complete, "we will take the appropriate action."
Because much attention during the hearing also fell on White house staff members and any role they played in the incident, Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) asked if any of them had been suspended as well.
Sullivan said he did not know. In a memo posted on the White House Web site, Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina wrote, "After reviewing our actions, it is clear that the White House did not do everything we could have done to assist the United States Secret Service."
He did not address any personnel issues, but did note, "Clearly we can do more, and we will do more."
In the video below, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the ranking Republican on the committee, grills Sullivan over how the security breach occurred. Click play to watch:
"The individuals who have been identified have been put on administrative leave," he said. Once the investigation is complete, "we will take the appropriate action."
Because much attention during the hearing also fell on White house staff members and any role they played in the incident, Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) asked if any of them had been suspended as well.
Sullivan said he did not know. In a memo posted on the White House Web site, Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina wrote, "After reviewing our actions, it is clear that the White House did not do everything we could have done to assist the United States Secret Service."
He did not address any personnel issues, but did note, "Clearly we can do more, and we will do more."
In the video below, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the ranking Republican on the committee, grills Sullivan over how the security breach occurred. Click play to watch: