Newly Hired White House Secret Service Agents Lack Security Clearance

Extract- UPI reports: In the rush to add additional Secret Service agents to the White House security detail, dozens of new recruits have been posted without completed background checks, government officials said.

Up to five dozen newly minted agents have been posted to sensitive positions without completing the national security clearance process. Secret Service Director Joseph P. Clancy acknowledged the problem last week in a conversation with Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.). Meadows raised the issue after hearing a newly hired officer was present for a White House meeting where classified information was shared, The Washington Post reported.

The Secret Service said there is an "administrative backlog" in issuing security clearances with the large number of new hires. Officials said the background checks will be completed by Friday. As a condition of employment, all Secret Service agents and officers must submit to background checks and a lie-detector tests and must obtain top-secret clearance. Agents are frequently privy to classified meetings and discussions.

"The director has taken immediate steps to accelerate the top-secret adjudication process and has allocated additional resources to ensure that this is completed as quickly as possible," Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said in a statement . . .  [Full UPI Story available at GOPUSA]

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Makes one wonder how these new secret service agents were hired and placed on duty at the White House. What training may they lack? What do you think? Should Secret Service Agents be working in the White House without Security Clearances?

For more information about the Secret Service and "Frequently Asked Question," visit the SecretService.gov website.

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