Secret Service director Julia Pierson resigns

WASHINGTON: -- The head of the US Secret Service, tasked with guarding US President Barack Obama, has resigned following several high-profile security lapses.

Julia Pierson offered her resignation to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday.

A day earlier, she faced angry questions in Congress about a major breach of White House security.

News of another incident involving an armed man allowed in a lift with Mr Obama compounded calls for her to go.

"Today Julia Pierson, the Director of the United States Secret Service, offered her resignation, and I accepted it," Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson wrote in a statement.

"I salute her 30 years of distinguished service to the Secret Service and the Nation."

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29452829


-- BBC 2014-10-02

"News of another incident involving an armed man allowed in a lift with Mr Obama compounded calls for her to go."

That should do it, all right.

The Secret Service has been going downhill ever since they stopped them from visiting hookers. Lots of hours and stress. What a lousy job.

They really need a man in the post. Someone with the balls to shoot first and ask questions later if they enter the White House property.

And so she should, absolutely no excuse as to why an armed intruder got in to the white house,

what a cockup... suppose this intruder was wearing an explosive belt/vest aad would have

detonate it inside the Whitehouse, can you imagine the consequences of such action?

unfathomable....

And so she should, absolutely no excuse as to why an armed intruder got in to the white house,

what a cockup... suppose this intruder was wearing an explosive belt/vest aad would have

detonate it inside the Whitehouse, can you imagine the consequences of such action?

unfathomable....

I understand what you are saying but the SS had made visual contact with this man and did an immediate risk assessment and decided to pursue on foot. Had they instead determined he was armed or wearing an explosives device they would have dropped him in less time than it takes you to press ADD REPLY.

Basically, what you and many Americans are now requesting is that we build a wall around the WH rather than a fence which allows everyday Americans the feeling that our Govt is transparent and "available".

Maybe the SS are lax because they want him gone as much or more than the rest of us. Ooh look there's a shady character coming in, let's look the other way for a while.

They really need a man in the post. Someone with the balls to shoot first and ask questions later if they enter the White House property.

Listening to a retired Secret Service agent who said that they will not shoot people on White House property unless they see a weapon or a suicide vest etc. If it is just a loon who jumped the fence which happens every year, they will try to subdue without lethal force first. He explained that there are lots of people on the White House grounds at any given time and they do not want to make the mistake of hurting or killing innocents.

Off-topic posts and replies have been removed.

My goodness...what a good day for the US...the US Attorney General, Eric Holder, with his lack of prosecuting anyone of his political party has resigned...the head of the US Secret Service has resigned...

If they could only get the crooks who head up the IRS and the Pres to resign...that country might yet have a bright future...