Shamed former Secret Service director Julia Pierson resigned last fall after several high-profile incidents — in particular, the case of a man who made it over the fence, through the White House’s North Portico and all the way to the East Room — cost the agency all credibility. Pierson’s exit was supposed to be the first step in cleaning up the Secret Service and its reputation … and then this happened.
Several media outlets are reporting that two Secret Service agents are being investigated for driving drunk after returning from a party March 4 and crashing into a White House barrier.
Report: 2 Secret Service agents are under investigation after a crash outside the White House. http://t.co/82j36ugmHx pic.twitter.com/Gdr3asqArd
— CNN (@CNN) March 12, 2015
Don't Secret Service agents know that you take the metro if you're drunk. I mean, c'mon. http://t.co/RdhKJesOpg
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 12, 2015
The Secret Service is Pretty Much Just 'Animal House' Nowhttp://t.co/QT5eLVY4XW pic.twitter.com/50PnmMh27Y
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) March 12, 2015
The Washington Post reports today, however, that that “embarrassing” incident might actually be much more serious than originally reported.
Buried lede: somebody threw a package over the White House fence, told police officers "it's a bomb," and escaped http://t.co/UmmjKCCxEs
— Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) March 12, 2015
Someone claims to have thrown a bomb over the White House fence? The Washington Post reports:
About 10:25 that night, a Pennsylvania woman hopped out of her blue Toyota near the southeast entrance of the White House on 15th Street NW, and, holding a package wrapped in a green shirt, approached an agent.
“I’m holding an [expletive] bomb,” she yelled, according to a government official with knowledge of the incident.
The woman then sped off.
…
But shortly before 11 p.m., the two high-ranking Secret Service agents, returning from a work party at a Chinatown bar about eight blocks from the White House, drove their government car through the crime scene. According to people familiar with the incident, they drove through police tape and then hit a temporary barricade, using the car to push aside some barrels. An agency official said Thursday that the car was not damaged.
The episode was caught on surveillance video. Investigators who have reviewed the tape of the incident say the pair either drove very close to or over the suspicious item wrapped in the shirt, one law enforcement official said.
The suspicious item turned out to be a book, and the woman was found and arrested two days later.
@_cingraham @WesleyLowery "An agency official said Thursday that the car was not damaged." good to know.
— Weird Peninsula (@Appleguysnake) March 12, 2015
https://twitter.com/uniongirlct/status/576144535065088001
How is the Secret Service so bad?
— Dr. Hapless Man for President, PhD (@Hapless23) March 12, 2015
* * *
Update:
Fox News’ Chad Pergram’s source tells him there was no “crash” as much as a “bump.”
Fox has learned car driven by USSS agents didn't "crash" into bike rack or other steel/metal barrier at WH. "Nudged" orange traffic barrel
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 12, 2015
Fox is told orange traffic barrel hit by USSS agents was erected temporarily as USSS began investigation of suspicious pkg at WH.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 12, 2015
Fox is told vehicle arrived at WH guardshack which was unoccupied as USSS began probing suspicious pkg in downpour.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 12, 2015
Fox told USSS agents backed up car at WH & "nudged" barrel to side of car with nose of car. Barrel did not tip over. Incident took 30 secs
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 12, 2015
Fox is told no rpt was made of USSS White House incident because it was kicked to Inspector General so fast.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 12, 2015
Fox is told USSS Dir Clancy was not notified immediately of WH incident because it wasn't initially thought to be a problem.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 12, 2015
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