An armed Secret Service agent responsible for protecting Vice President Kamala Harris was recently involved in a physical altercation with other agents.
The Washington Examiner reported that the unnamed agent “fought unarmed” with other agents at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and was handcuffed.
The outlet indicated that the agent “became aggressive with other agents,” which the agency characterized as a medical incident and a physical altercation. The agent was eventually handcuffed.
🚨#BREAKING: A Secret Service agent assigned to Kamala Harris was hospitalized after exhibiting distressing behavior, including spouting gibberish, speaking incoherently, and physically provoking another officer. authorities said Harris was not present when the incident occurred pic.twitter.com/FlLE4XOpcD
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 25, 2024
In a statement, Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told the Washington Examiner that the agent was removed from their assignment shortly after engaging in a physical altercation with other agents.
“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,” Guglielmi said.
The Washington Examiner said it is “unaware of the agent’s current status.”
Harris was at her residence then and supposed to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base later, according to Guglielmi.
“The Vice President was at the Naval Observatory when this incident occurred and there was no impact on her departure from Joint Base Andrews. The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and health of our employees very seriously. As this was a medical matter, we will not disclose any further details,” he said.
The Washington Examiner noted that Secret Service agents are armed while on domestic protective duty and are assigned to protective details. As such, they are subjected to travel burdens, often working many hours away from home. The Secret Service has expressed its concerns over the psychological health of agents and their proximity to government officials.
Secret Service agents assigned to the Vice Presidential Protective Division, which is widely regarded within the agency as the second distinguished assignment following the Presidential Protective Division, undergo heavy training and must serve in field offices for at least three years and receive excellent performance reports before being assigned.
These agents must also pass the difficult Protective Detail Training course at the Secret Service’s James J. Rowley training facility in Washington, D.C.
