Secret Service investigates agent on Vance detail over alleged leak

A Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President JD Vance’s protective detail has been suspended and is under investigation over allegations of leaking sensitive information, the agency said, a case that could lead to a criminal inquiry.

The Secret Service has not identified the agent or said what information was allegedly disclosed. Anthony Guglielmi, the agency’s chief of communications, said the case involves allegations of “compromising operational and information security.”

“While we will not comment on the specifics of this matter, one principle is unequivocal: any conduct that potentially threatens the safety of a protectee will not be tolerated,” Guglielmi said.

The White House declined to comment on the investigation.

The inquiry follows an MS NOW report last week that cited anonymous sources describing frustration among some agents assigned to protect Vance and his family. The report said agents had raised concerns internally about some travel plans, including a planned Marine Corps helicopter trip to take Vance’s young son to a golf lesson and travel by the Vance family to go house-hunting in the Washington, D.C., area.

According to CNN, the agent’s suspension was tied to the MS NOW report. CNN also reported, citing a source, that the agent came under suspicion after allegedly providing information that appeared in the story about the planned helicopter trip. The trip was ultimately canceled because of severe thunderstorms, The Guardian reported, citing CNN.

The MS NOW report also described what it called a “building morale problem” among agents assigned to the vice president’s family. The BBC said it had not independently verified that report.

The vice president’s office responded to MS NOW last week by praising the agency. “The Vances are grateful to the men and women of the US Secret Service who serve our country with distinction,” the office said. “While protecting a Vice President with a large policy portfolio and a young and growing family presents a unique challenge, agents of the Secret Service do so with excellence every day.”

The publication of the travel details caused concern among the Secret Service, the FBI and White House officials, who “fumed over operational details being described in the press,” a source told CNN, according to The Guardian. A second source told CNN that investigators had identified the person they believe was responsible for leaking the information.

The Secret Service said the matter is being handled as an administrative investigation, with the possibility of a criminal inquiry. It is not yet known whether the case will result in internal discipline, criminal charges or both.

The investigation comes as agency officials warn of a sharp increase in threats against the people they protect, including President Donald Trump. Vance and his family are required to receive Secret Service protection around the clock.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran told reporters Wednesday that the agency is operating in the most dangerous threat environment of his 24-year career. Speaking ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which was rescheduled for Friday after the initial April event was disrupted by an alleged assassination attempt, Curran said the threat level facing the agency is “off the charts.”

“The environment has become very volatile, and that’s just across the board,” Curran said. “The threat picture and environment is as large as I’ve ever seen it.”

Agents have opened nearly 10,000 threat investigations since January, officials said. They attributed the rise to online threats, lone actors, ideological extremism, foreign adversaries and people experiencing mental health crises. Officials said most threats now originate online, rather than through handwritten letters or other traditional communications.