A Public Review of the Secret Service

First topic message reminder :

The Secret Service of the United States is shrouded in legend and discerning its past often involves separating the untenable claims of officials and detractors. Many officials and critics of conspiracy seek to mold these men as unimpeachable. Conversely, some conspiracy advocates have often predetermined most had a nefarious role in President Kennedy's death. Unconsidered by these groups are incompetence and repeated disregard of protocols. Yet it does not require elevating or denouncing these men based on speculation, the primary evidence offers insights that speculations cannot.

Regarding the Kennedy assassination repeated allusions of Secret Service agents drinking occur. Additionally they were likely subject to exhaustion from chasing strippers the morning of the Kennedy motorcade.(i) A few Agents were drinking according to Mr. Rowley the Chief of the Secret Service.(ii) Witnesses also corroborated their exploits with strippers. This blatant disregard for duty and protocol infer possible corruption and incompetence. These factors indeed would subsequently weigh upon Secret Service agents during security measures in Dealey Plaza. 

However, these repeated failings do not substantiate Secret Service complicity in the feasible plot. To include the Secret Service in such as plot is beyond the verified evidence. It is highly improbable that every guard assigned to the President would all simultaneously betray him. Also problematic is the idea that so many would be included in a plot without actual reasoning to its goal. The Secret Service had already compromised itself; they required no orders to do so.

Complicity fails to account for Agent Henry Rybka's blatant confusion at changes to the motorcade. If Rybka and others were aware of the plot, why are they seemingly confused? The Secret Service's later removal of the President's body without jurisdiction would seem to be a more substantial action to back nefarious intent. It was not the Secret Service but men who ordered these actions to occur that should bear the blame. Yet we cannot allow some critics to ignore the serious mistakes that continue to occur. These proven mistakes compromise the Secret Service's purpose.

The Secret Service problems were not merely contained to the Kennedy assassination. Secret Service problems have continued with alarming regularity. Among the most widely known problems was the Colombian prostitution scandal. This includes heavy drinking and solicitation according to a Department of Homeland Security investigation. (iii) One agent admitted prior misconduct.

Despite the circumstances, the Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan assured officials "This is not a cultural issue; this is not a systemic issue..." Senator Susan Collins subsequently replied to Sullivan "I continue to believe that the problem is broader than you believe it to be". (iv) Secret Service, military personnel, and Drug Enforcement Agency members were embroiled in a prostitution and scandal in Columbia. Senator Susan Collins commented, "It's disturbing that we may be uncovering a troubling culture that spans more than one law enforcement agency." (v) However, the recent scandals have been ongoing.

Despite the Secret Service Director's claim, the next alleged scandal occurred in El Salvador. Shortly after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Reno stated the problems were isolated; a report on El Salvador emerged.(vi) The report states Secret Service agents were involved in excessive drinking and prostitution. A dozen Secret Service employees and officers were implicated in the scandal. Eight Secret Service officers have reportedly been "forced out" and others face administrative discipline (vii)

Some Secret Service agents stated that similar behavior occurred on other official trips (viii) Between 2007 and 2012, the official received 64 complaints of sexual misconduct.(ix) Yet between 2004 and 2013, the Secret Service was cited for 824 cases of misconduct for various reasons.(x) The Secret Service issued new guidelines to curb these feasibly corrupt practices. Among the new initiated protocols was a ban on drinking within 10 hours of duty. (xi) Most officials dismissed any inference of these activities being a possible long-term behavior of the Secret Service agents. One Secret Service agent found innocent of the charges stated "Of course it has happened before...It really only blew up in this case..."(xii)

Secret Service agents referred to a prior trip with President Bill Clinton to Buenos Aires. Some member agents allegedly went out for evening strip club parties. Secret Service agents, the media, and the official record in many cases repeatedly affirmed these activities. Despite attempts to curb such behavior more scandal was to come. It seems a handful in this agency place more importance on their personal activities.  
Days ago, the Secret Service had a problem with three agents excessively drinking in the Netherlands. (xiii) These agents were sent home from the Presidential visit. This was subsequent to a prior scandal involving agents sending unwanted sexual emails to a co-worker. (xiv) After considering the evidence, a substantial problem feasibly exists. The Secret Service in my view needs serious reform far beyond that currently offered by the Obama administration. 

The culture of the Secret Service has allowed some agents to ignore normal protocols. Not the entire Secret Service, but a significant minority has created enduring problems that compromise national security. These could be agents from decades ago to recent personnel dismissed for misconduct. The repetition of history and scandal needs to be addressed. If the President's defenses are so easily compromised, America is not as secure as officials imagine.


Sincerely,

C. A. A. Savastano
facebook/NeapMG
neamg.com


i. Hearings of the Pres. Comm., Vol. XVIII, Ex. 1019, United States Secret Service memo to General Counsel Rankin of President’s Commission, May 5, 1964, p. 666.
ii. Hearings of the Pres. Comm., Volume 5, Testimony of James J. Rowley and Robert Carswell, (June 18, 1964), pp. 451, 454, 458, 459.
iii. Investigation revisits Secret Service prostitution scandal, Greg Seaby, October 20,2012, CNN News, cnn.com
iv. Secret Service scandal: Systemic problem or aberration?, Tom Cohen, May 24,2012, CNN News,  cnn.com
v. Columbia Secret Service Prostitution Scandal Spreads to the DEA, Pierre Thomas and Jason Ryan via World News, ABC NEWS, (May 21,2012), abcnews.go.com
vi. New Secret Service scandal focuses on strippers and prostitutes in El Salvador, The Daily Mail, April 26,2012, dailymail.co.uk
vii. Report: Secret Service agents partied with strippers ahead of Obama El Salvador visit, CBS News, April 26, 2012, cbsnews.com
viii. New Allegations Surface of Secret Service Misbehavior in El Salvador, Korva Coleman, April 26,2012, npr.org
ix. U.S. Secret Service received 64 complaints of misconduct - US Election 2012, May 23, 2012, BBC News, bbc.co.uk
x. Questions raised again about the Secret Service culture, Aamer Madihani and Kevin Johnson, March 27, 2014, USA Today, usatoday.com
xi. Secret Service Columbia scandal prompts new rules, April 27,2012, BBC News,  bbc.co.uk
xii. Confidants: Secret Service agents contend misbehavior on trips not unprecedented, Carol D. Leonnig and David Nakamura, April 24,2012, washingtonpost.com
xiii. 3 high-profile Secret Service scandals in 3 years, Jessica Durando, March 26,2014, USA Today, usatoday.com
xiv. Obama backs Secret Service head after second sex scandal, Dave Boyer, November 15, 2013, The Washington Times, washingtontimes.com

Mr. STERN - Now, did you recognize it at the time as a shot?
Mr. SORRELS - I felt it was, because it was too sharp for a backfire of an automobile. And, to me, it appeared a little bit too loud for a firecracker.
I just said, "What's that?" And turned around to look up on this terrace part there, because the sound sounded like it came from the back and up in that direction.
At that time, I did not look back up to the building, because it was way back in the back.
Within about 3 seconds, there were two more similar reports. And I said, "Let's get out of here" and looked back, all the way back, then, to where the President's car was, and I saw some confusion, movement there, and the car just seemed to lunch forward.
And, in the meantime, a motorcycle officer had run up on the right-hand side and the chief yelled to him, "Anybody hurt?"
He said, "Yes."
He said, "Lead us to the hospital."
And the chief took his microphone and told them to alert the hospital, and said, "Surround the building." He didn't say what building. He just said, "Surround the building." And by that time we had gotten almost in under the underpass, and the President's car had come up and was almost abreast of us.
When I saw them get so close, I said, "Let's get out quick," or "Get going fast," or something to that effect. In other words, I didn't want them to pass us, because I knew we were supposed to be in front.
Mr. DULLES - Do you recall having told them that you had sent a radio order out to surround the book depository?
Mr. CURRY - I didn't do that, sir. That was one of my inspectors, I believe that gave that order. I was riding in the Presidential parade and approximately a hundred feet, I guess, ahead of the President's car, and when we heard this first report, I couldn't tell exactly where it was coming
Mr. CURRY - I said what was that, was that a firecracker, or someone said this, I don't recall whether it was me or someone else, and from the report I couldn't tell whether it was coming from the railroad yard or whether it was coming from behind but I said over the radio, I said, "Get someone up in the railroad yard and check."
And then about this time, I believe it was motorcycle Officer Chaney rode up beside of me and looking back in the rear view mirror I could see some commotion in the President's car and after this there had been two more reports, but these other two reports I could tell were coming behind instead of from the railroad yards.