House Judiciary Committee to Hold Secret Service Oversight Hearing Next Week

Press Release

On Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 10:00 a.m., the House Judiciary Committee will hold a public oversight hearing on the United States Secret Service and will then close a portion of it to the public to discuss classified matters. Acting Director Joseph Clancy will testify before the Committee.

At next week's hearing, the House Judiciary Committee -- which has primary jurisdiction over the Secret Service -- will examine a series of security lapses that raise concerns about the policies and procedures in place regarding the Secret Service's mission to provide protection for the first family and the White House grounds. Most notably, in mid-September Omar Gonzalez jumped the fence and ran through unlocked doors of the White House. Although the Secret Service downplayed this event to the American public and House Judiciary Committee staff, the Committee's investigation has uncovered a series of failures that led to this alarming security breach. Mr. Gonzalez was found to be in possession of a knife after finally being apprehended just outside the East Room of the White House.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the statement below on next week's oversight hearing.

Chairman Goodlatte: "In light of recent events and evident security failures, the House Judiciary Committee has grave concerns about the policies, procedures, and judgment of the United States Secret Service. I look forward to having Acting Director Clancy before the Committee next week so that we can get to the bottom of any systemic problems facing the Secret Service and find solutions to prevent such disconcerting security breaches from happening again in the future. It's critical that the Secret Service effectively identify, intercept, and disrupt threats to the President of the United States."

Wednesday's hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at judiciary.house.gov.

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