A Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President JD Vance’s security detail has been placed on administrative leave after being suspected of leaking information to the media, according to a CNN report published Wednesday evening.
The agent has reportedly been placed under review as part of an internal investigation, according to a source familiar with the matter. Another source told CNN that officials within the administration believe the agent served as a source for a July 15 MS NOW report that focused on Vance’s travel requests and the concerns allegedly raised by members of his security detail.
The MS NOW story claimed that Secret Service agents had grown frustrated over what it described as hastily arranged personal and family travel requests involving the vice president.
According to the report, Secret Service personnel were preparing to assist with a planned trip in which Vance’s young son would travel aboard Marine Two, the U.S. Marine Corps helicopter used to transport the vice president, for a golf lesson. The article stated that the helicopter was scheduled to fly Vance and his son to Joint Base Andrews, which includes a secure golf facility.
However, the planned flight never took place. The report said the trip was canceled at the last minute because of severe thunderstorms and high winds in the Washington, D.C., area. The details surrounding the canceled flight were attributed to individuals identified as having knowledge of the flight plans and administration officials familiar with Vance’s schedule.
The MS NOW report also asserted that some Secret Service agents had privately expressed concerns about travel requests coming from Vance and his office. According to the outlet, those agents believed certain assignments represented an inappropriate or even unprecedented use of government resources when compared with previous vice presidents.
The administration now appears to be examining whether confidential information from within the vice president’s security operation was improperly disclosed to the media.
CNN reported that the investigation is being handled by the Secret Service’s internal affairs office. At this stage, it remains unclear what the outcome of the review will be. The report said it is unknown whether the agent could ultimately face administrative discipline, criminal charges, or no further action.
The reported investigation comes as the Trump administration has taken an increasingly aggressive approach toward unauthorized disclosures of government information.
Earlier this month, the Department of Justice subpoenaed four journalists with The New York Times who reported on security concerns involving the new Air Force One aircraft that President Donald Trump accepted as a gift from the Qatari royal family.
According to the article, the Justice Department is also seeking access to the reporters’ phone records as part of that investigation.
The reported actions against the Secret Service agent and the subpoenas issued to journalists reflect the administration’s broader effort to identify the sources of sensitive information provided to news organizations. While the internal review of the agent remains ongoing, CNN reported that officials are continuing to investigate whether the suspected leak originated from within the vice president’s protective detail and what consequences, if any, could follow.
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