An alarming incident at Andrews Air Force Base has thrust Vice President Kamala Harris’s security detail into the spotlight. On Monday morning, before Vice President Harris was scheduled to arrive, a U.S. Secret Service agent tasked with her protection engaged in a physical confrontation with fellow agents.
The event transpired following what the Secret Service has termed a “medical incident” involving the agent. Colleagues noticed unusual behavior that quickly escalated into aggression. According to the Washington Examiner, tensions escalated when one agent clashed with fellow officers of the USSS. Efforts by the special agent in charge and a detail shift supervisor to defuse the situation spiraled into a physical skirmish.
The agent was restrained with handcuffs and removed from duty for a medical evaluation. The incident unfolded hours before Harris was due to land at Andrews Air Force Base.
Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the Secret Service, said to the Washington Examiner, “At approximately 9 a.m. April 22, a U.S. Secret Service special agent supporting the Vice President’s departure from Joint Base Andrews began displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing. The agent was removed from their assignment while medical personnel were summoned.”
“The Vice President was at the Naval Observatory when this incident occurred and there was no impact on her departure from Joint Base Andrews. The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and health of our employees very seriously. As this was a medical matter, we will not disclose any further details.”
Journalist Susan Crabtree shared insights on social media, noting that the agent was armed during the altercation but the weapon remained secured in the holster until other agents intervened. “Sources within the Secret Service community tell me the agent assigned to VP Kamala Harris was armed during the fight—that the gun was secured in the agent’s holster until other agents physically restrained the agent and took the gun from the agent’s possession,” Crabtree tweeted.
“I’m also told there are DEI concerns among the USSS community about the hiring of this agent. Other agents and officers within the USSS are asking questions about the agent’s hiring process, whether the USSS did enough to look into the agent’s background and monitor the agent’s mental well-being because there have been widespread concerns about other strange behavior before this incident. For now, I am also withholding the agent’s name,” Crabtree continued.
“Sources say the agent in question acted erratically upon showing up for a traveling shift at Joint Base Andrews. The agent ended up tackling the Senior Agent in Charge of the VP detail, got on top of him and started punching him. At this point, I’m told, the agent who was attacking the SAIC did indeed have a gun, but it was in the holster. Other agents are expressing relief that the agent did not shoot the SAIC.”
The Vice President receives full-time protection from the U.S. Secret Service. This protection includes a dedicated detail of Secret Service agents who are responsible for the safety and security of the Vice President at all times, both in public and private settings.
The Secret Service provides comprehensive security measures encompassing physical protection, surveillance, and the secure transportation of the Vice President. This includes the use of armored vehicles, secure communication systems, and advanced planning to safeguard locations and routes. The agents assigned to the Vice President are highly trained in a variety of security protocols, including emergency response, threat assessment, and defensive tactics.
The protection extends not only to the Vice President but also to their immediate family, ensuring their safety regardless of whether the Vice President is present. This level of security is maintained throughout the Vice President’s term in office and can be extended after leaving office if deemed necessary by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
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