An unexpected incident at Andrews Air Force Base involving a U.S. Secret Service agent has raised concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris’s security detail. Before Vice President Harris’s scheduled arrival, a Secret Service agent responsible for her protection engaged in a physical altercation with other agents. This occurred during what the Secret Service referred to as a “medical incident,” with the agent exhibiting unusual behavior that escalated into violence.
The incident began when the agent displayed erratic behavior, which quickly became aggressive. As reported by the Washington Examiner, the situation intensified when the agent clashed with other USSS officers. Attempts by the special agent in charge and a detail shift supervisor to calm the situation led to a physical confrontation, requiring other agents to restrain the aggressive agent with handcuffs and remove them from duty for medical evaluation. This all happened hours before Harris’s expected arrival at Andrews Air Force Base.
Chief of Communications for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, told the Washington Examiner, “At approximately 9 a.m. April 22, a U.S. Secret Service special agent supporting the Vice President’s departure from Joint Base Andrews began displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing. The agent was removed from their assignment while medical personnel were summoned.”
The Vice President was not at the base when the incident occurred, and her schedule remained unaffected. The Secret Service emphasized that they take the safety and health of their employees seriously, but, due to the medical nature of the incident, they did not disclose further details.
Journalist Susan Crabtree shared on social media that the agent was armed during the altercation, but the weapon remained secured in the holster until other agents subdued the situation. She also indicated that there are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion oncerns within the Secret Service related to this agent’s hiring process. Reports suggest that there were previous signs of unusual behavior and questions about whether the Secret Service adequately monitored the agent’s mental health.
