The Secret Service Has Now Put Automatic Locks On The White House Door
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Secret Service Director Julia Pierson testified before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday in response to the mid-September security breach in which Omar Gonzalez, a knife-wielding intruder, jumped over a fence outside the White House and made it deep inside the building.
One of the immediate changes to security procedure, Pierson said, was the change to automatic locks at the White House's north door. She told the committee that a Secret Service officer was attempting to lock the door of the White House manually when Gonzalez barged through and knocked over the officer.
Gonzalez eventually was successfully able to venture extensively inside the White House, and he was helped when he was able to make it through two unlocked doors. He was eventually tackled near the Green Room after running through most of the East Room, taking a path that led him past a staircase that led to the president's bedroom. Obama was not in the White House, however, at the time Gonzalez got inside.
Wikimedia/Business Insider
Pierson faced a grilling in front of members of Congress, who expressed concern about the safety of the president and the First Family in light of a number of recent mishaps by the agency. They include a 2011 incident in which it took several days for the Secret Service to discover a gunman had shot at the White House.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California), the chair of the committee, chided Pierson in his opening remarks, snarkily asking her "how much would it cost" to lock the front door of the White House.
"How on earth did this happen?" Issa said. "Why was there no guard stationed at the front door of the White House, and yes, how much would it cost to lock the front door of the White House?"
Pierson repeatedly took full responsibility for the security breach, saying it was "unacceptable" and that it would "never happen again."
"It is clear that our security plan was not executed properly," she said.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
- Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market