Obama 'Retains Full Confidence' in Secret Service Despite Security Failures - East Idaho News
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Obama ‘Retains Full Confidence’ in Secret Service Despite Security Failures

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121212 PresidentObama?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1412132872242Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — The Secret Service has been facing tough questions in recent days after it was learned that the man who jumped the White House fence on Sept. 19 got farther into the building than previously believed.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday that despite the concerns, President Obama “retains full confidence in the men and women of the Secret Service to do their very important work.” He would not, however, say whether the president was aware of the full details of the intrusion, other than to note that Obama has “gotten a couple of briefings on this matter.”

Also on Tuesday, a Secret Service official told ABC News that in a separate incident, first reported by the Washington Examiner, an armed man was allowed in an elevator with the president during a CDC event in Atlanta earlier this month.

The official said that the individual was flagged for acting unprofessionally in the elevator, and that the Secret Service later determined that he had been charged with a crime. It was not immediately clear whether the man had been convicted. The official said that Obama was not in any danger, though the incident will likely raise more questions.

“There’s a common interest that exists between all of you, those of us here at the White House that work directly for the president and the officials at the Secret Service to provide accurate information as soon as possible to the American public,” Earnest said Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the fence jumper, Omar Gonzalez, was indicted by a federal grand jury. Gonzalez faces one federal charge of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. He also faces charges for two violations of District of Columbia law — carrying a dangerous weapon outside of a home or place of business, and unlawful possession of ammunition. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.


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