Breaking News
August 27
by Morgan Blake
Three Secret Service officials, including communications chief Anthony Guglielmi, have been placed on administrative leave while the agency investigates potential misconduct
The U.S. Secret Service has placed three of its officials on administrative leave as it investigates possible misconduct, adding another layer of scrutiny to the federal agency that protects President Donald Trump and other senior government officials. Secret Service said it put three non-law enforcement personnel on administrative leave pending an investigation by its Office of Professional Responsibility. The agency has not said what conduct it is investigating. The Independent and other outlets reported that among those put on leave is Anthony Guglielmi, the chief of communications for the Secret Service. The other two officials also work in the agency’s communications department. Reports say the officials have had their security clearances and access to government devices suspended as the investigation continues, a measure used during internal investigations.
The agency has kept a tight leash on the investigation. The three employees have been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation into "potential misconduct," and the Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the matter," a Secret Service spokesman said. The agency declined to comment. The dearth of information has fed speculation over what prompted the probe. The development has been linked to concerns over sensitive information and possible internal leaks, though the Secret Service has not publicly confirmed the specific allegations or said the three officials did anything wrong. That’s an important distinction: an administrative leave is not an admission of misconduct or guilt. The investigation is continuing.
Of the three officials named in reports, the most prominent is Anthony Guglielmi. Guglielmi, chief of communications, has been one of the most visible faces of the Secret Service to the public, often fielding questions about presidential security, protective operations and incidents involving the agency. His leave therefore takes a senior communications official out of the agency at a time of increased public scrutiny. The Secret Service has not identified the other two employees publicly. Reports say all three are non-law enforcement personnel working in the communications operation. The internal investigation is being conducted by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
The probe comes at a sensitive moment for the Secret Service. The agency has faced increased scrutiny over security breaches involving Trump and the management of sensitive material related to presidential travel and protective operations. The agency has faced scrutiny since several security-related controversies, AP reported. Concerns about internal information security have gained in importance considering that the Secret Service personnel have access to highly sensitive operational information. Information about presidential movements, security arrangements and emergency procedures could pose serious risks if improperly disclosed. The Secret Service has been investigating potential disclosures of sensitive information, and recent news reports have detailed those probes, but the agency has not publicly linked the current administrative-leave cases to any specific leak. The agency therefore has the tough job of protecting sensitive information while being open with the public about its work.
The latest investigation follows a period of increased scrutiny for the Secret Service. The agency’s duties include protecting the president, vise president, their families and other designated officials, investigating financial crimes and protecting the nation’s financial infrastructure. So any allegation of misconduct in the organization may cause concerns about professional standards and operational security. However, the Secret Service has said it is standard procedure to put employees on leave during an investigation. This current investigation is being conducted in-house and is not a criminal investigation in the public domain. Officials have not said if the probe could result in disciplinary action, firing or criminal referrals.
The Office of Professional Responsibility is expected to determine if the employees violated Secret Service policies or professional standards. The probe ultimately could exonerate the officials, or result in administrative discipline or further action if investigators find evidence of serious misconduct. The agency has yet to release a public timetable for completing the inquiry. Given Guglielmi’s senior communications position and the wider concerns about information security at the Secret Service, the case is likely to remain a center of attention. The agency’s decision to put three officials on leave suggests it is taking the matter seriously, but the limited information available about the case raises questions about the nature and seriousness of the alleged misconduct. Allegations are not proof of wrongdoing and should not be treated as such until the investigation has been completed.
Morgan Blake is a U.S. investigative journalist specializing in government accountability, corporate misconduct, and public-interest reporting.
Newsflash: