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Report Details Secret Service Failure To Stop Intruder

A sign is seen as a member of the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division walks behind a barrier in front of the White House in Washington on October 25, 2014. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)
A sign is seen as a member of the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division walks behind a barrier in front of the White House in Washington on October 25, 2014. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

A government investigation has found that Secret Service agents were at fault for failing to stop Omar Gonzalez from jumping the White House fence two months ago.

The report found that Gonzalez, who was yielding a knife, was able to get deep inside the executive mansion due to a lack of training, poor staffing decisions and communication problems among the Secret Service.

One officer wasn’t aware his warnings weren’t being broadcast to others inside the White House. Another officer had his personal cellphone set on speakerphone and kept his tactical radio in his locker.

As well, members of an emergency response team didn’t know the layout of the White House. And the Secret Service initially reported that Gonzalez wasn’t armed and was stopped just inside the building.

Ron Kessler, author of “The First Family Detail,” joins Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd to talk about what was found in the report.

Guest

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