This is absolutely insane.
During a rally in Asheville, North Carolina, a female Secret Service agent assigned to protect former President Donald Trump made headlines for leaving her post to breastfeed without authorization. According to a report by RealClearPolitics, the incident occurred shortly before Trump was scheduled to arrive at the event.
The Secret Service agent, from the Atlanta Field Office, was found breastfeeding her child in a room designated for critical security operations. This area is typically reserved for emergency situations involving the President, highlighting the seriousness of the breach. The agent, along with two family members, managed to bypass the Uniformed Division checkpoint and was escorted into the room by event staff who were not properly cleared by the Secret Service.
A spokesperson for the Secret Service stated that while the incident did not impact the security of the event, it is currently under review. “All employees of the U.S. Secret Service are expected to uphold the highest standards,” said Anthony Guglielmi, the spokesperson. “Although the incident did not affect the event, we are examining the specifics of this case. Due to the nature of the matter being personnel-related, we cannot provide further details at this time.”
This incident comes in the wake of a serious security lapse at a previous Trump rally. On July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania, an assassination attempt was made on Trump. The assailant fired a shot that injured Trump, resulted in the death of a spectator, and wounded two others. The would-be assassin was subsequently killed by law enforcement.
The scrutiny on the Secret Service intensified following the incident, leading to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on July 23. Cheatle faced bipartisan criticism during her testimony before the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers expressed frustration over the agency’s security planning and response to the attack, which contributed to Cheatle’s resignation less than 24 hours later.
This recent breach involving the Secret Service agent adds another layer of concern to ongoing discussions about security and protocol within the agency.
