Secret Service Agents Under Investigation for Allegedly Drinking and Driving
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Two United States Secret Service agents are under investigation for allegations that they were under the influence of alcohol while driving a government vehicle near the White House, a Secret Service official confirmed to ABC News Wednesday.
The incident, which was first reported by the Washington Post, is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. A Secret Service spokesperson said that the incident occurred on March 4.
Two senior members of the president’s detail had left a late-night party for a retiring agent when they allegedly hit the barricade near the White House.
The White House said Wednesday that President Obama is aware of the allegations and supports Secret Service Director Joe Clancy’s decision to turn the investigation over to the DHS Inspector General for a thorough review.
“We are aware of the alleged incident,” an Obama administration official told ABC News. “At the request of the Secret Service Director, Joe Clancy, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General is conducting an investigation into the allegations. We’re not going to comment further while that investigation is ongoing.”
Both agents have been reassigned to non-operational assignments pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Secret Service has been under fire in recent years over a string of incidents including a White House incursion by a fence jumper who made it into the East Room as well as eight agents being dismissed after reports that they allegedly solicited prostitutes during an official trip to Colombia.
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