Bloomberg's White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs dropped some concerning news on Thursday without any further elaboration.
News: There's a petition circulating inside the US Secret Service that flags concerns about "a number of recent Secret Service incidents indicative of inadequate training," a double standard in disciplinary actions, and a vulnerability "to potential insider threats" that could…
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 9, 2024
News: There's a petition circulating inside the US Secret Service that flags concerns about "a number of recent Secret Service incidents indicative of inadequate training," a double standard in disciplinary actions, and a vulnerability "to potential insider threats" that could pose a risk to US nat sec. It was first shared Monday, I'm told, and has 39 signatures so far. Aim is to call for a congressional investigation, petition says.
Real Clear Politics reporter Susan Crabtree then confirmed the petition and revealed what it was about.
I can confirm that there is a petition circulating in the Secret Service community calling for an @GOPoversight committee investigation and the removal of Kimberly Cheatle as Secret Service director. The petition raises issues about DEI hiring superseding training and creating… https://t.co/rp8Vwtibp0
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) May 9, 2024
Just three days ago, the House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation into DEI hiring and recruiting practices at the FBI. Now anonymous whistleblowers are calling for the same sort of Congressional investigation at the Secret Service. https://t.co/IkXVfajySS
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) May 9, 2024
The petition calls for an investigation by the House Oversight Committee and the removal of Kimberly Cheatle as the Secret Service director. It raises issues about DEI hiring superseding training and creating security issues. Whistleblowers are calling for the same type of investigation into the Secret Service that the House Judiciary just started into the FBI.
Crabtree pointed back to the incident with the agent on Kamala Harris' team, in which the agent began acting erratically and punching her superior. Concerns had been raised about her hiring and alleged DEI practices.
Obviously, this raises deep and immediate questions, not just about the safety of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, but all Secret Service protectees, including former President Donald Trump, if you have issues involving the agents. What I find particularly disturbing in this report is the "vulnerability to potential insider threats" that Jacobs talks about. Is that talking about a specific threat? Because it sure sounds like the whistleblowers have a concern there that could implicate national security. And given how agencies seem to have become inundated by politics and leftists, and the animosity going into this election, that does not make me feel confident.
House Oversight needs to take an immediate look into this to ensure the safety of everyone involved and not just send a "strongly worded letter" hoping that someone answers in the next couple of months.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member