Chaffetz: No ‘classified’ excuses from Secret Service director

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) on Monday night called on the Secret Service director to refrain from dodging public questions in a hearing Tuesday surrounding the individual who jumped the White House fence and entered the residence this month.

“Just because something is embarrassing, doesn’t mean that it is classified, so it will be interesting to see the mix,” Chaffetz said about director Julia Pierson’s upcoming testimony Tuesday in front of the House Oversight Committee. “I don’t want to hear the director continue to say it’s classified, it’s classified, it’s classified.”

{mosads}Pierson had earlier sent a letter to the committee asking that much of the briefing take place behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the president’s security. 

Chaffetz, who heads the panel’s National Security subcommittee, described this month’s breach as an “epic failure,” asserting it seems like White House security is getting worse. 

“I’ve got deep concerns that the president is not as safe as we want and need him to be,” he said on CNN. “I’ve got questions about leadership, protocol and the training of the Secret Service.” 

New details emerged Monday, partly from whistleblowers, about how far Omar Gonzalez made it into the White House, after he jumped the fence with a knife on Sept. 19. The Washington Post and other news agencies reported he made it nearly 80 feet through the East Room after overpowering an agent. 

Chaffetz said an alarm box meant to alert agents to an intruder had been muted prior to the incident. He said he would like to re-evaluate the Secret Service protocols about use of force against an intruder. 

“When the Secret Service puts out a statement that the officers showed tremendous restraint, I have a problem with that,” he said. “I don’t want tremendous restraint. Safety and security of the president and the first family is priority No. 1, and securing the White House. You don’t know what this person has underneath them, in this day of ISIS and ISIL and terrorists.”

Earlier Thursday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest did give Pierson a vote of confidence from the president.

“The president does have full confidence in Director Pierson and other members of the Secret Service to do their very important work,” Earnest said. 

— Justin Sink contributed.

— Updated at 9:01 p.m.