The United States Secret Service spokesperson stated that on Saturday morning (December 14), around 11 a.m., officials from the Secret Service discovered a man attempting to climb over the temporary anti-climbing fence near the White House, and subsequently arrested him.
With just over a month until the next presidential inauguration ceremony, fences have been erected near the White House.
The spokesperson wrote that the man was “quickly detained and arrested for illegal trespassing,” adding that the individual “did not damage the fence or cause any harm to any protected individuals.” The spokesperson stated that the man has been taken to the Metropolitan Police Department in the District of Columbia for processing.
The Metropolitan Police Department stated that the case is “being handled by the United States Secret Service.”
Previously, on December 3, the Secret Service stated in a release that an agent confronted a man suspected of trying to break into a car parked on the street near Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s residence in Washington, D.C., in the early hours of the day. The agent fired shots, but there was no evidence to suggest anyone was hit, and the suspect fled the scene.
The Secret Service stated in a release that “in this incident, no protected individuals were threatened, and no protected individuals were injured.” The agency noted that the involved officer is under investigation by the District’s internal affairs unit’s firearms review team.
On December 5, acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe appeared before a House subcommittee to testify about security vulnerabilities in the investigation of two attempted assassinations of then-presidential candidate Trump.
In his prepared testimony ahead of the hearing, Rowe stated, “The entire incident illustrates a failure on the part of the Secret Service to meet expectations and fulfill responsibilities.”
President-elect Trump has not yet nominated a candidate for the position of Secret Service director.
(This article referenced reporting from “The Hill”)