Carney Questions Secret Service On White House Security Breach

Press Release

Carney Questions Secret Service On White House Security Breach

Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10) on Thursday raised questions about the level of training of Secret Service personnel in light of last week's security breach at the White House state dinner.

Under questioning from Congressman Carney at a Homeland Security Committee hearing, Secret Service director Mark Sullivan said more could have been done to train the Secret Service team in preparation for the event.

"In a bizarre way, we owe some thanks to that pathologically egomaniacal couple for exposing weaknesses in the White House security," Congressman Carney said. "We must ensure that a lapse like this never happens again."

Congressman Carney, chairman of the panel's Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight, thanked Sullivan for attending the hearing and expressed regret that the White House didn't show similar courage in agreeing to send a representative to testify about the security breach.

"Having someone from the White House at today's hearing would have provided a much clearer picture of what transpired at last week's state dinner," Carney said. "I am at a loss to understand why the White House didn't send somebody to discuss this as well."

Congressman Carney pressed Sullivan about the level of discretion of Secret Service personnel in turning away guests at White House events. He also inquired about the status of the members of the Secret Service who allowed Tareq and Michaele Salahi into the event.

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