Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Tuesday that his House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed two top Secret Service agents in its investigation into security lapses at the White House, including the recent crash into the fence by two agents who had been drinking at a retirement party.
"The top priority of the committee’s investigation into multiple security lapses within the Secret Service is to ensure the president, his family, and other individuals protected by the Secret Service are safe," the Utah Republican said.
The committee is also seeking to ascertain "why the Secret Service appears to be systemically broken and in desperate need of both leadership and reform," Chaffetz said.
The March 4 crash by the two agents had disrupted an active bomb investigation outside the White House.
It was the latest among several embarrassing scandals involving the Secret Service at the White House.
Those began last September, when Omar Gonzalez, a U.S. Army veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, jumped the White House fence and got far into the executive mansion through an unlocked door before he was tackled.
Gonzalez, 42, who had been wielding a knife,
pleaded guilty to two charges stemming from the incident earlier this month.
Chaffetz said Tuesday that the subpoenas had to be issued after talks failed with Obama administration officials despite assurances by Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy that panel members would be able to interview the agents.
In the negotiations, the Department of Homeland Security asked Chaffez and ranking Democratic committee member Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland to keep any information obtained from the interviews" from Congress and the American people.
"Those restrictions are unacceptable," Chaffetz said. "Under such restrictions, the committee cannot perform its essential duties to evaluate and propose much-needed legislative reforms for this troubled agency.
"It is disappointing the department has declined to cooperate," he added. "We therefore must take the regrettable step of compelling the agents for interviews before the committee."
Related Stories:
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.