Secret Service Blunder During Obama’s Outing With Sasha & Malia Shocks Onlookers
(Getty)
The Secret Service has responded to a reported security lapse involving former President Barack Obama as he waited in a vehicle outside a restaurant in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 21. Obama was waiting for his daughters, Sasha and Malia when an unexpected encounter occurred that has since raised questions about the security detail assigned to the former president.
According to TMZ, the incident began when a security guard, who was working a bar mitzvah at the restaurant Mother Wolf, walked into the alleyway where Obama’s SUV was parked. The guard, who remains unnamed, initially thought he might spot a dignitary in the backseat of the vehicle.
To his surprise, he found himself just feet away from Obama, who was seated in the car using a laptop. Startled by the close proximity to the former president and aware that he was carrying a concealed weapon, the guard quickly retreated from the area. A short time later, he was asked to provide his credentials and concealed carry license to Secret Service agents.
Speaking with TMZ, the security guard described the situation as a “security lapse” on the part of the Secret Service, noting that there was no visible agent on the backside of the SUV or covering the stairwell, which allowed him to access the alley. He added, “I think they were obviously embarrassed by the situation.”
However, the Secret Service disputed the guard’s account. In a statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson for the agency clarified, “The Secret Service cannot provide the details on our means and methods of protection, but we can confirm that at no time were any Secret Service protectees in the vehicle while the individual was walking down the alleyway.”
The spokesperson further noted that the photograph taken by the guard was captured after Obama’s departure, not during the alleged security breach, and insisted that the claims were “inaccurate.” This incident comes at a time when the Secret Service has faced increased scrutiny, particularly following two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, per the Associated Press.
During a July rally in Pennsylvania, a gunman opened fire on Trump, narrowly missing him but possibly grazing his ear. The incident raised concerns about the agency’s coordination with local law enforcement, as a House task force continues to investigate the breakdown in communication during the event.
While the Secret Service has denied that there was any actual threat to Obama during the LA incident, the guard’s account has added to ongoing concerns about the agency’s ability to secure high-profile protectees. As the investigation into the Trump assassination attempts continues, the Secret Service’s handling of these incidents will likely remain under close scrutiny.
