The Secret Service has placed an agent on administrative leave after an undercover video showed him discussing sensitive parts of his duties, NewsNation’s Kevin Bohn reported Tuesday.
The Secret Service also suspended the agent’s security clearance, who served on Vice President Vance’s detail and has worked for the law enforcement agency for five years.
The video published Tuesday by the O’Keefe Media Group — helmed by conservative activist James O’Keefe — shows the agent telling a woman about sensitive information related to Vance’s security measures and travel plans. The outlet identified the agent as Tomas A. Escotto, while the Secret Service declined to confirm his identity to NewsNation, citing privacy requirements.
“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,” Deputy Secret Service Director Matthew Quinn said in a statement to NewsNation.
Quinn added that the agency has 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 Secret Service operations.
The Hill has reached out to Vance’s office for comment.
Earlier this month, 26-year-old William D. DeFoor was arrested in connection with vandalism at the vice president’s home in Cincinnati, Ohio. DeFoor faces several federal charges, including damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against any person or property in a restricted building or grounds and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.
Vance and his family were not present at the house.
A Justice Department release noted that DeFoor was armed with a hammer, which he used to break glass windows across the front of the residence. He also inflicted $28,000 worth of damage to a Secret Service vehicle.
