WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service agents have been walking shoulder to shoulder across the North Lawn of the White House this morning, apparently combing the turf for anything that may have been dropped by a man who scaled the fence last night.
The intruder sprinted across the lawn, ignoring commands from officers to halt, and made it all the way through the White House front door. The Secret Services says he was tackled just inside the North Portico. A search of the suspect turned up no weapons.
The Secret Service identifies the man as Omar Gonzalez of Copperas Cove (kahp-ruhs KOHV’), Texas. The 42-year-old was charged and transported to a nearby hospital complaining of chest pain.
The incident has prompted fresh questions about the Secret Service and its ability to protect the president. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (CHAY’-fihtz) says the agency is “failing” to do its job. The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on national security says “Secret Service leadership has a lot of questions to answer.”
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116-v-32-(Martin Di Caro, AP correspondent)–Some are questioning whether the Secret Service can do its job of protecting the president after a man hopped the White House fence. AP correspondent Martin Di Caro reports. (20 Sep 2014)
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117-c-15-(Martin Di Caro, AP correspondent)-“clear the area”-AP correspondent Martin Di Caro reports the Secret Service is being criticized for failing to nab an intruder until he made it all the way to the front door of the White House. (20 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO DCSW102: Uniformed Secret Service officers walk along the lawn on the North side of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. The Secret Service is coming under intense scrutiny after a man who hopped the White House fence made it all the way through the front door before being apprehended. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (20 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO DCSW109: Uniformed Secret Service officers walk along the lawn on the North side of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. The Secret Service is coming under renewed scrutiny after a man scaled the White House fence and made it all the way through the front door before he was apprehended. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (20 Sep 2014)
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