– Lawmakers lash out –
Detailing the Atlanta breach, the contractor aroused Secret Service concerns when he refused to comply with an order to stop recording Obama with his phone camera, the Post said, citing three unidentified sources.
But it was the White House incident which had lawmakers demanding to know how somebody could scale the black iron fence, race 70 yards (64 meters) across a lawn, enter unlocked White House doors, knock down an agent, and run into the East Room – without being stopped.
The man was ultimately tackled by an off-duty Secret Service officer who was coincidentally walking through the premises, the Post reported. A search of a car later revealed hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Pierson, who has led the Secret Service since March 2013, said a thorough investigation had been launched. She also acknowledged that the elite service has had its “share of challenges” in recent years.
“I intend over the coming months to redouble my efforts, not only in response to this incident, but in general, to bring the Secret Service to a level of performance that lives up to the vital mission we perform,” she told the House Government Oversight Committee.
“Enhancements will be made and personnel actions will be taken.”
Committee chairman Darrell Issa, a Republican, said it was “amazing and unacceptable” that the intruder had breached “at least ‘five rings’ of security.”
“The fact is, the system broke down on September 19, as it did when the Salahis crashed a state dinner in November 2009, or when Oscar Ortega-Hernandez successfully shot at the White House on November 2011.”
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