The Secret Service has issued a new agencywide guidance in response to a photo of a Department of Homeland Security agent wearing a Secret Service patch at press conference at a campaign event for Republican vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance.
A photo of a an officer who is not with the Secret Service, but was wearing an agency patch on an armored vest raised questions after it was discovered he did not work directly for the agency. The individual in question is a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations.
“The U.S. Secret Service became aware of a photo where a member of another law enforcement agency is improperly wearing a Secret Service patch,” the Secret Service said in a statement shared with Newsweek on Wednesday. “Corrective action has been taken and guidance has been distributed to the workforce regarding the use of agency insignias.”
The picture, taken by a Detroit Free Press photojournalist on August 7, shows the federal agent looking through a backpack at a checkpoint for Vance’s press conference in Detroit. Members of the Homeland Security Investigations work alongside the Secret Service to provide security for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Secret Service officials told Newsweek the incident does not pose any security threats.
The Secret Service closely monitors a press conference with vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance as he speaks on August 7, 2024, in Shelby Township, Michigan. The Secret Service has issued new guidance informing its agents not to give agency patches to other federal law enforcement agents.
Emily Elconin/Getty Images
The Homeland Security Investigations “conducts federal criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, contraband, weapons and sensitive technology into, out of and through the United States,” according to the DHS website. The agency has offices in 235 cities across the U.S. and over 90 offices in more than 50 countries.
The photo and the Secret Service’s response comes amid heightened scrutiny of the agency following last month’s attempted assassination against former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Multiple investigations have been launched into the shooting and the agency’s director, Kimberly Cheatle, has since stepped down from her position.
The assassination attempt has also led to increased security for candidates at both the top of the Republican and Democratic ticket. President Joe Biden also granted independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s request for Secret Service personnel in the wake of the Trump shooting.
Vance himself raised questions about security violations last week when he approached Air Force Two on the tarmac of a Wisconsin airport. Walking off a Trump campaign aircraft, Vance walked over to Vice President Kamala Harris‘ plane to see his “future plane.”
The publicity stunt garnered attention as observers noted how he got so close to Harris. The Secret Service issued a statement “without getting into specifics” that said Vance’s behavior was not considered a security breach. The spokesperson noted to The Advocate that both Harris and Vance are protected by the agency and that Vance was accompanied by his own Secret Service personnel.
