Secret Service chief: W.H. breach 'unacceptable'

The head of the U.S. Secret Service told a House committee Tuesday that it was “unacceptable” that a security lapse at the White House allowed an armed man to scale the White House fence and break into the inner chambers of the building.

Secret Service Director Julia Pierson said the agency is reviewing its security protocols after the Sept. 19 incident and vowed that such a security lapse “would not happen again.”

“It’s clear that our security plan was not properly executed,” Pierson said during a tense House Oversight Committee hearing.” This is unacceptable and I take full responsibility.”

Lawmakers have been intensely critical of the agency since Omar Gonzalez breached the White House compound and entered the Green Room before being apprehended by officers earlier this month. He was later arrested and is awaiting trial in federal court. There was strong, bipartisan criticism of the agency from committee leaders before Pierson spoke.

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“Common sense tells us this was a significant security failure — not an instance of praiseworthy restraint,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said. “This failure has once again tested the trust of the American people in the Secret Service — a trust already strained by a string of recent scandals.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings — the top Democrat on the panel — echoed those sentiments, saying recent incidents, including an incident recently revealed by The Washington Post in which it took days for the Secret Service to realize that eight shots had been fired at the White House in 2011, tested the “credibility” of the agency.

“This recent incident unfortunately causes many people to ask whether there is a much broader problem with the Secret Service,” the Maryland Democrat said.

Committee members focused on what they described as a breakdown in security after agents failed to release security dogs to stop Gonzalez and a system of alarms failed to alert officers inside that an intruder was on the grounds.

(Also on POLITICO: Darrell Issa hits Secret Service protection)

The Washington Post reported on Monday that initial reports from the Secret Service that Gonzalez only made it through the front doors were incorrect and that he had, in fact, had access to much of the White House’s main floor. Pierson also said that Secret Service agents had previously stopped and questioned Gonzalez, who in one case was carrying a hatchet, near the White House in the weeks before Sept. 19 but ultimately released him as he had not committed a crime.

Pierson also said that officers recognized Gonzalez on Sept. 19 before he jumped the fence but did not detain him.

“We all are outraged within the Secret Service about how this incident came to pass,” Pierson said. “It is self-evident that mistakes were made.”

The agency is conducting an internal investigation into the breach and reviewing its security protocols. Already, Pierson said, the Secret Service has installed automatic locks to the doors of the North Portico. The doors were unlocked when Gonzalez jumped the White House fence.

(Also on POLITICO: Intruder made it deep into White House)

Lawmakers have questioned the ability of the Secret Service to protect the first family in recent years after a series of high-profile incidents rocked the agency’s credibility. That includes incidents in 2012 where officers hired prostitutes in Cartagena, Colombia, before the president arrived.

“I worry about protocol. If you project weakness, you invite attacks,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). “Don’t let somebody get close to the president … don’t let them get close to the White House, ever. If they have to take action that’s lethal, I will have their back.”

Pierson also faced heavy criticism over her tenure at the agency, with lawmakers questioning if the agency’s leadership was adequate. Pierson was appointed after the prostitution incident but previously served as chief of staff for her predecessor, Mark Sullivan.

“I wish to God that you protected the White House like you’re protecting your reputation here today,” said Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.)

Pierson said her agency is attempting to keep up with increased threat levels against the White House while coming to grips with lower staff levels — but she did not fault the across-the-board sequestration budget cuts for the security lapses. The agency is “more than 550 people below our optimal level,” Pierson said.

She added that cases of fence jumpers on the White House grounds is increasing. There were 16 fence jumpers in past five years with six of those occurring this year.

Issa tersely questioned Pierson about the inconsistencies between the official reports and The Washington Post stories. And Chaffetz peppered the director as to why a press release issued by the agency praised the officers for using restraint.

“There has been a lot of information in this case. That’s why we are doing a robust review,” Pierson said. “I had read the press release before it went out. I do think in the totality of the circumstances, … that these officers did use restraint. I do not think the security plan was properly executed.”...