Three Secret Service Officials — Including Communications Chief — Escorted Out and Stripped of Security Clearances Amid Reported Criminal Leak Probe — FBI and CIA Reportedly Involved
Three Secret Service officials were reportedly escorted out of their offices on Monday and designated “do not admits” as part of a criminal investigation into the leaking of classified information to the media.
RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree broke the news Tuesday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Crabtree reported:
“Three Secret Service officials/agents were walked out of their offices on Monday and made ‘do not admits’ as part of a criminal investigation into leaked classified information to the media, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
“It’s unclear if the leaks to the media pertained to the controversy over President Trump’s secret evacuation from Turkey because of intelligence about a surface-to-air missile threat to Air Force One from Iran.
“The FBI and the CIA are involved in the investigation, one source told RCP.
“Calls to Secret Service Communications Director Anthony Guglielmi were not immediately returned. An email to the Secret Service press office also was not immediately returned.”
The Secret Service subsequently confirmed that three employees had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into “potential misconduct.”
“Three non-law enforcement personnel at the U.S. Secret Service have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into potential misconduct,” an agency spokesperson told CNN in a statement. “Per policy, this incident is being investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility. We are unable to comment further at this time.”
The statement continued: “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in fulfilling our zero-fail mission of protecting the President and other high-level government officials. Our critical work demands that our workforce maintain an unwavering commitment to duty, honesty, and courage in all aspects of their jobs. We will continue to pursue the level of excellence that is worthy of the mission which has been entrusted to us by the American people.”
CBS News identified one of the employees as Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi. The other two individuals also reportedly worked in the agency’s communications office.
All three had their security clearances suspended and lost access to their government-issued devices.
The agency has not publicly confirmed that the investigation concerns classified leaks, nor has it confirmed Crabtree’s report that the FBI and CIA are involved.