In a startling revelation, a female Secret Service agent allegedly abandoned her post to breastfeed her child just before former President Donald Trump’s rally in North Carolina on Wednesday. The report, published by Real Clear Politics‘ journalist Susan Crabtree, has raised significant concerns about the security arrangements at the event.
The incident
According to Crabtree, the agent, who was in charge of security for the entire event, was found breastfeeding her child in a room designated for Secret Service “official work.” This discovery was made just five minutes before Trump’s motorcade was scheduled to arrive.
The agent, who hails from the Atlanta Field Office, was reportedly accompanied by two other family members at the time. Crabtree’s report indicates that the woman and her family bypassed the Uniformed Division checkpoint and were escorted by an unauthorized staff member to the room.
Official response
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi addressed the incident, emphasizing that it did not impact the event. “All employees of the U.S. Secret Service are held to the highest standards,” he stated. “While there was no impact on the North Carolina event, the specifics of this incident are being examined. Given this is a personnel matter, we are not in a position to comment further.”
The incident comes in the wake of a security lapse on July 13, when a would-be assassin shot Trump in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The subsequent criticism of the Secret Service’s preparedness led to the resignation of former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on July 23, under mounting external pressure.
As early voting begins and political tensions rise, the incident at the North Carolina rally has highlighted the Secret Service’s internal challenges and the ongoing scrutiny of its operations. The investigation into this matter will undoubtedly be closely watched by both critics and supporters of the agency.