Glass Houses and the United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service is under the microscope. Agents are accused of wrongdoing. Like every other law enforcement agency in the United States, there is a process for investigating allegations of misconduct. The agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility will interview witnesses, gather evidence and investigate the allegations like the internal affairs division of any other law enforcement agency would under the circumstances. The investigation will identify violations of agency policy and the law and will conclude with recommendations, discipline and potentially criminal charges. Such is the case with allegations of misconduct, whether unfounded or not, around the United States.

The allegations in this case are troubling and serious. If found to be true, the agents will face discipline including termination and families will likely be torn apart. There is no doubt that the agency is taking the allegations seriously and by all accounts, the investigation is in full swing.

I believe these allegations should be investigated fully and the agency should sanction inappropriate conduct. As long as the LEOs involved are treated professionally and provided with due process, you will not hear any complaints from me about the outcome. However, I am about tired of the raging hypocrisy in the news and the United States Congress about these allegations. Perhaps a history lesson is in order.

Name another person who was in a better position to influence a government official and have access to government secrets than Monica Lewinsky. Yet the media covered for Bill Clinton arguing that sex with a White House intern in the Oval Office was “personal conduct” and said nothing about his character. Congressman William Jefferson was caught with $90,000 cash in his freezer. NBC just fired staff for creating controversy in a racially charged shooting by manipulating a 911 recording. The company apologized and acted like this was the first time something like this happened. Have they forgotten the 1993 scandal with GM? Do you remember the 1983 Congressional page scandal? How about members of the United States Congress arrested for DUI? Congressman Charlie Rangel cannot even get paying his taxes or having tags on his car straight. Who could forget thankfully former United States Representative Cynthia McKinney striking a LEO in 2006! I could go on….and on….and on.

Perhaps to clear this up, we should allow United States Representative Hank Johnson to investigate these allegations as soon as he figures out how to keep Guam from tipping over. Maybe we should allow former United States Senator John Edwards to investigate these allegations. He may soon have a great deal of time on his hands…as soon as his trial is over. Perhaps Anthony Weiner could lend a hand with interviews. I hear he has some free time and is pretty handy with electronic media.

Here’s an idea. Follow me because it is way outside the box. Perhaps we should allow the investigation to continue and wait for the results. Perhaps the president should consider spending at least one holiday and vacation in Washington DC to give his security detail some time with their families. Perhaps the agency credited with safeguarding our monetary system and protecting presidents and heads of state since 1901 should be given the benefit of the doubt. Maybe, just maybe, the critics of the United Secret Service should let the established procedure for investigating such allegations proceed without trying to grab every sound bite opportunity.

I have been fortunate to take classes from, know and work with several LEOs from this agency. The thousands of agents, uniformed officers and support personnel of the United States Secret Service deserve better treatment. Faced with overwhelming media scrutiny and public condemnation, the agency still continues with its mission. The LEOs continue to put themselves in danger and remain committed to upholding their oaths. One part of that oath is to uphold and defend the United States Constitution. The LEOs accused of wrongdoing and those completely unconnected with the investigation deserve the protection of the constitution they uphold and defend.

Given the choice, I would trust a randomly selected member of the United States Secret Service over any one of their critics. It is not even a close call.

There are a lot of stories, commentaries, statements and opinions out there about the United States Secret Service. I hear criticism from all over. Is it just me or do you hear a lot of glass breaking?

Stay safe.