U.S. Secret Service Director Joe Clancy will tell a Senate panel Thursday that reports of two agents crashing into a gate at the White House are incorrect, according to prepared remarks.
But Clancy will also tell the Senate Appropriations Committee’s homeland security panel that he is “very unhappy” that he did not learn of the alleged incident — for which two senior agents are still being investigated — until five days after it occurred and pledged to hold accountable any agents found to have concealed information.
“The fact that I did not learn of this allegation until five days after it is said to have occurred is unacceptable,” Clancy will testify, adding later, “I called my senior staff together last week and made clear my expectations for prompt notification of these types of allegations.”
Clancy stresses in his remarks that the Department of Homeland Security’s investigation is still ongoing and says he is “extremely concerned” about the allegations leveled against his agents, including allegations that the agents driving the vehicle were intoxicated.
“While I am extremely concerned by the allegations of misconduct and the potential for alcohol involvement, I must reserve judgment on these matters until the OIG investigation is completed,” Clancy will tell the panel of Senators.
Clancy says he reviewed the surveillance footage of the incident earlier this month, which he said shows that the Secret Service agents were driving “at a speed of approximately 1-2 mph” before he says they pushed aside a plastic barrel, without damaging the vehicle. Clancy said he would review the footage with lawmakers.
Secret Service agents previously told media outlets that the two agents hit a gate outside the White House and interfered with an active investigation into a suspicious package. A senior supervisor on the scene also reportedly overruled another agent who wanted to breathalyze the agents in the vehicle.
Clancy will also emphasize during his testimony that he cannot simply fire agents accused of misconduct, not because he is “being lenient,” but because of federal statutes overseeing the Secret Service.
Instead, Clancy will stress that he has “made extensive personnel changes in senior leadership” since taking the helm of the agency and has been working to restore credibility to an agency that has faced repeated blunders in recent months and years.
Clancy will testify before the Senate on Thursday at 2 p.m., two days after he faced a tough grilling in the House of Representatives and as he continues to face scrutiny from lawmakers weary of Secret Service debacles.