WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement in reaction to the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General investigation into the Secret Service incident at the White House Complex on March 4, 2015. The report is the first in a series that the Inspector General will release regarding recent incidents involving the Secret Service.
“The facts contained in today’s report regarding the incident near the White House on March 4th are troubling,” Sen. Carper said. “The Inspector General’s investigation exposes a lack of clear guidelines for addressing internal incidents within the agency, as well as insufficient policies to ensure accountability among Secret Service agents and officers. While most of the men and women charged with carrying out the Secret Service’s vital mission serve with distinction and integrity, the well-publicized poor behavior on the part of a handful of agency employees in recent months has underscored a number of operational and cultural challenges. I understand that Director Clancy has already taken steps to begin to address these issues. While I realize change cannot happen overnight, Director Clancy should redouble his efforts to address both the specific problems this report reveals and the root causes of the numerous challenges his agency faces.”