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October 2, 2014

Secret Service Directly Resigns over Security Lapses 
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The head of the Secret Service has resigned after major lapses in the
protection of President Obama and his family. Julia Pierson's departure
comes after an armed intruder made it inside the White House after
scaling a fence, running across the lawn, and entering through an
unlocked door. The Secret Service later admitted an armed security guard
with a criminal record was allowed to ride in an elevator with President
Obama in Atlanta earlier this month. White House Press Secretary Josh
Earnest announced Pierson's resignation.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest: "Director Pierson offered her
resignation today because she believed that it was in the best interest
of the agency to which she has dedicated her career. The secretary
agreed with that assessment. The president did, as well. Over the last
several days, we have seen recent and accumulating reports raising
questions about the performance of the agency, and the president
concluded that new leadership of that agency was required."

The White House says it was only informed of the elevator incident
shortly before it was revealed in a news report this week. Pierson had
initially been appointed after a 2012 scandal when a dozen Secret
Service agents solicited prostitutes in Colombia.

 

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