Bizarre reason why a DHS agent was wearing Secret Service patch on his armored vest at J.D. Vance rally
A federal agent tasked with securing a J.D. Vance event last week broke protocol by sporting the insignia of another agency, DailyMail.com has learned.
The breach came from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent who was tasked with conducting security bag checks outside of the August 7 event near Detroit, Michigan.
A photograph of the agent reveals he was wearing a Secret Service patch on his armored vest despite not being a part of the department.
Already mired with controversy since the shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, one month ago, the Secret Service broke protocol once again, and admit it never should have happened.
‘Secret Service providing patches to other agencies is not standard practice,’ a source familiar with the matter told DailyMail.com. 'It’s definitely against agency protocol.'
The agent shown above is not actually apart of the Secret Service but a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent, which similar to the USSS, is also overseen by DHS. The Secret Service has changed their protocols to avoid such confusing interactions
Further, a Secret Service spokesperson revealed to DailyMail.com 'corrective action' has already been enacted and new policy changes have been implemented to avoid a similar debacle.
'The U.S. Secret Service became aware of a photo where a member of another law enforcement agency is improperly wearing a Secret Service patch,' the spokesperson said.
'Corrective action has been taken and guidance has been distributed to the workforce regarding the use of agency insignias.'
The issue comes at a politically sensitive time for the agency.
Since the Butler tragedy resulted in the death of firefighter Corey Comperatore and the brutal injuries of two other rally goers, the agency's top brass have been dragged before Congress.
Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, is escorted by Secret Service agents ahead of his August 7 event in Detroit
Secret service closely monitors a press conference with Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance speaks at the Shelby Township Police Department on August 7, 2024 in Shelby Township, Michigan. Vance and Harris both spoke at competing events
After testifying weeks after the assassination attempt, Kimberly Cheatle resigned as the department's director.
Days later, her replacement, Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe was forced to testify before Congress on his agency's historic failure.
That hearing, like Cheatle's, quickly devolved into a shouting match as Rowe was repeatedly berated by lawmakers.
In addition to the hearings on the assassination attempt, a number of Secret Service whistleblowers have come forward calling foul on many internal practices.
One of those whistleblowers claimed to Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., that the lead Secret Service agent in charge of Donald Trump's deadly Butler, Pennsylvania, rally was 'inexperienced' and 'failed to implement appropriate security protocols.'
Another whistleblower similarly told the senator that the same lead site agent 'personally made decisions that likely compromised the overall security of the event.'
'The site agent, the lead agent, was known to the Trump campaign to be inexperienced, to be ineffectual, to be, frankly, incompetent at their job,' Hawley said of the complaints.
U.S. Secret Service on watch before Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at a campaign event, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
U.S. Secret Service on watch over Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris
Lawmakers have also introduced legislation to reform the agency to avoid mistakes.
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., told DailyMail.com this week that he introduced two Secret Service-aimed bills after Trump was saved by 'luck' and not the 'skills' of the protective agency.
'We cannot leave the security of a president or a presidential candidate the chance,' the Democrat said.
His legislation, if passed, would increase the protective radius the Secret Service must defend around a protectee and would strip them of their financial crimes responsibilities.
A congressional task force has been established to investigate the Butler rally and multiple investigations into the event by the FBI and DHS are ongoing.
