US Secret Service director Julia Pierson resigns after security breaches

Julia Pierson, the director of the US Secret Service, resigned Wednesday following an uproar over security breaches at the White House. AFP PHOTO | JIM WATSON 

In Summary

• The resignation follows a string of lapses by the elite presidential protection branch.
• Ms Pierson appeared before legislators Tuesday as calls for her resignation grew due to what was regarded as poor performance of her duties.
• An intruder recently ran through the front door of the White House.
• On September 19, 2014 Omar Gonzales, 42, jumped over the White House fence and made it into the heavily guarded White House.

By B M J MURIITHI
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The director of the US Secret Service, Julia Pierson, resigned Wednesday amid uproar by the American public over two back-to-back incidents which could have potentially endangered the life of President Barack Obama and members of his family.

The resignation follows a string of lapses by the elite presidential protection branch, including one in which an intruder ran through the front door of the White House.

(READ: Secret Service chief admits serious breach)

"Today, Julia Pierson, the Director of the United States Secret Service, offered her resignation, and I accepted it," said Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in a statement.

Mr Johnson also announced that the Directorate of Homeland Security would open an internal inquiry of the Secret Service following the security. “We shall appoint a new panel to review security at the White House,” he said.

On September 19, 2014 Omar Gonzales, 42, jumped over the White House fence and made it into the heavily guarded White House, sparking an evacuation within the complex shortly after President Barack Obama departed for the weekend.

On Monday, White House officials who did not want to be named admitted that Gonzales made it much farther into the building than previously known, overpowering one Secret Service officer and running through much of the main floor.

(READ: White House fence jumper had knife)

Ms Pierson appeared before legislators Tuesday as calls for her resignation grew due to what was regarded as poor performance of her duties.

Besides the White House security breach, another bombshell revelation surfaced Tuesday that an armed contractor was allowed to get into an elevator with the president during a recent trip to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.

And in a media briefing at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, President Obama’s spokesperson, Josh Earnest, said the president “has accepted her (Pierson’s) resignation.”