The Lawfare Podcast

Lawfare Archive: Carol Leonnig on the United States Secret Service and What to Do About It

Aug 4, 2024

Carol Leonnig, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist from the Washington Post, dives deep into the intriguing dynamics of the United States Secret Service. She discusses the agency's critical mission to protect the president and the troubling gaps that have emerged over the years. Topics include the fallout from President Kennedy's assassination, the Cartagena scandal's exposure of agency culture, and serious security breaches like the infiltration by Jonathan Tran. Leonnig calls for significant reforms, arguing that mere funding increases won't suffice.

53:05

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Episode guests

Carol Leonnig

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Quick takeaways

The United States Secret Service has faced significant challenges in protecting the president, as exemplified by historical failures and insufficient staffing.

Reform within the Secret Service necessitates a cultural shift that prioritizes protective duties and accountability, over expanded responsibilities and outdated practices.

Deep dives

Historical Challenges of the Secret Service

The history of the Secret Service underscores significant challenges in its protective mandate, particularly following the Kennedy assassination. Prior to this event, President Kennedy had insufficient security personnel due to an overwhelming demand for constant travel and public appearances. This situation exemplified systemic flaws within the Secret Service, highlighting the agency's struggle to adequately protect the president as a few key agents were on duty while others were exhausted from relentless schedules. The findings of the Warren Commission also pointed towards the necessity of adequate staffing and preparation to ensure the safety of the nation’s leader.

Intro

4min

Evolution of Secret Service Protection

18min

Trust and Tensions: The Secret Service's Role

8min

The Cartagena Scandal: A Culture Exposed

12min

Security Breaches at the White House

8min

Challenges and Reforms in the Secret Service

4min

Reflections on the United States Secret Service and Listener Engagement

2min

From July 7, 2021: The United States Secret Service has many important missions, the most public of which is protecting the president of the United States. And in this mission, its motto is "Zero Fail." There is no window for them to let their guard down when it comes to protecting the commander-in-chief.

And yet, the past several decades of the Secret Service's protection have seen gaps, mistakes and exposures of some fundamental problems within the Secret Service itself. Carol Leonnig is a Pulitzer Prize-winning national investigative reporter at the Washington Post known for her reporting on the Secret Service, as well as the Trump presidency and many other topics. She is also the author of the new book, "Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service." She sat down with David Priess to talk about the United States Secret Service, its mission, its challenges and potential reforms to get over some of its most fundamental flaws.

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