A Secret Service agent has been suspended from duty after allegedly sharing confidential information about Vice President JD Vance during a date with an undercover reporter.
On January 13, a video was released by the O’Keefe Media Group showing a man from Vance’s detail meeting with a journalist whom he believed was a regular date.
The footage shows him at a busy restaurant, engaging with the woman who questions him off-screen.
Surprisingly, the Secret Service agent, working with the Department of Homeland Security, disclosed sensitive details including Secret Service shift timings and the agents’ protocols when accompanying Vance in public.
Moreover, he provided his date with an identification badge to confirm his position.
The woman is heard asking, ‘can I see your badge again, with your photo,’ complimenting him by saying, ‘you’re so cute.’
Alleged screenshots from the agent to the journalist revealed Vance’s travel plans, photos of the presidential motorcade, and other information.
Additionally, metadata supposedly indicated Vance’s precise location.
The video also captures the man expressing his political views, particularly his opinions about ICE agents.
“I don’t understand why they’re covering their face… I don’t agree with that at all,” he remarked about agents wearing balaclavas. “They’re deploying tactics that shouldn’t be deployed.”
The agent disclosed that he voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 election and disagreed with Donald Trump’s administration’s immigration policies.
Following the clip’s release, the US Secret Service reportedly suspended the agent, according to a statement made to PEOPLE.
US Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn stated to the outlet: “The U.S. Secret Service has no tolerance for any behavior that could potentially compromise the safety, privacy or trust of our protectees.
“This incident is under investigation and the employee involved has been placed on administrative leave with his clearance suspended and access to agency facilities and systems revoked.”
“The U.S. Secret Service has also issued an order for all personnel to retake the agency’s required anti-espionage training in order to ensure employees are aware of the threats posed by individuals aiming to exploit agency employees for information about our protective operations,” Quinn elaborated.
He emphasized the Secret Service’s longstanding tradition of discretion, stating, “We have no tolerance for employees who fail to meet this standard.”
“The U.S. Secret Service deeply apologizes to the Vance family for this violation of their trust and privacy. The faith our protectees place in this agency is not something the U.S. Secret Service takes lightly, and we are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that a similar breach of standards does not occur again,” he concluded.
Efforts have been made to contact the White House for a response.