The Obama administration is investigating reports that two senior Secret Service agents, including a top member of President Obama’s protective detail, drove government vehicles after drinking at a late-night party last week.
A government source told The Washington Times that there was “heavy drinking” at the party at Fado’s Irish Pub in Washington last Wednesday, and that at least one agent allegedly drove a government vehicle after the party to a White House checkpoint.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said officers outside the White House stopped the driver but were “ordered by supervisors not to take action.”
CBS News reported Wednesday night that President Obama has been briefed on the situation. The probe is being conducted by the Homeland Security Department, which includes the Secret Service.
In a statement, a Secret Service spokesperson said the agency “is aware of the allegations of misconduct involving two of our employees at the White House complex on the evening of March 4.”
“If misconduct is identified, appropriate action will be taken based on established rules and regulations,” the spokesperson said. “Director [Joseph] Clancy has been briefed on these allegations and has directed that this investigation be turned over to the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General. The Secret Service will fully cooperate with [the inspector general] in this investigation.”
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The new probe comes just weeks after Mr. Obama appointed Mr. Clancy, a former Secret Service agent, to lead the beleaguered agency.
Last year, the agency was embarrassed by a series of security blunders, including a fence-jumper who ran all the way into the White House before he was tackled by officers.
The Washington Post reported that the agents under investigation are Mark Connolly, the second-in-command of Mr. Obama’s detail, and George Ogilvie, a senior supervisor in the Washington field office.
Another Secret Service official said the two employees “have been reassigned to non-supervisory, non-operational assignments.”
The agency has been hit by several high-profile scandals under Mr. Obama. In 2012, agents were found to have brought strippers and/or prostitutes to their hotel in Colombia while they were performing advance security duty for the president’s visit there.
Of 13 employees suspected of soliciting prostitutes in the incident, six retired or were resigned, four had their security clearances revoked and the other three returned to duty.
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In 2013, a Secret Service supervisor was reportedly found trying to get into a Hay-Adams Hotel room to retrieve a bullet he had left there after spending time in the room with a woman he had met at the hotel bar. He and another Secret Service employee were eventually moved out of their positions.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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