Report: Secret Service Agent on JD Vance’s Detail Suspended Over Suspected Leak

A U.S. Secret Service agent who serves on Vice President JD Vance’s security detail was placed on administrative leave following an internal investigation into suspicions that he leaked information to the press about the vice president’s travel. That was reported today (Thursday) by CNN.

According to the report, the review is being led by the Secret Service’s internal affairs division, after officials identified the agent as the person suspected of passing along information that was used to prepare a story about the strain placed on Vance’s security team. At this stage, it has not been disclosed whether the investigation is expected to end with disciplinary measures בלבד or whether it could also lead to criminal charges.

The article at the center of the investigation did not deal only with the working conditions of security personnel. It also included information about the vice president’s planned schedule. Among other details, it revealed that Vance had been expected to fly in a Marine helicopter with his son to a golf lesson, a plan that was ultimately canceled.

The publication of those details reportedly sparked anger among senior officials in the Secret Service, the FBI, and the White House, who argued that operational information tied to the security of the vice president of the United States had been exposed. The concern within the American security establishment is that publishing this kind of information could undermine security arrangements for senior officials and put them at risk.

As of now, the Secret Service has not issued an official response to the matter. The media outlet that published the original story has also not responded to reports about the investigation and the suspicion that the source of the information came from within Vance’s security unit.

The case comes against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s policy of stepping up enforcement against leaks to the press. As part of that approach, additional measures have recently been taken against those suspected of providing sensitive information to media outlets.