The US Secret Service was unable to stop a minor from unlawfully entering President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last December, and no action was taken against those responsible for the security lapse.
The juvenile intruder roamed freely for almost an hour and even took a dip in the pool without being detected.
“Sources in the Secret Service community are raising the Mar-a-Lago breach as further evidence that the detail and its supervisors assigned to protect Trump are given preferential treatment and are not bearing the same responsibility for the layers of security failures leading up to the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump that wounded the former president in the ear and killed retired fireman Corey Comperatore in front of his family. The detail and its two leaders are very close to and well-liked by Trump and the former president’s extended family,” RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree said.
Per RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree:
The Secret Service assigned to protect former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., failed to prevent a juvenile from illegally entering the compound in late December last year, according to three sources in the Secret Service community.
The juvenile was able to remain undetected inside the Mar-a-Lago estate for nearly an hour, and apparently responding to a dare, jumped into the pool outside the entrance to Trump’s residence.
One source said the intruder did a “cannon-ball” into the pool, but another could only confirm that the young person jumped into the pool.
The entire compound is alarmed and secured, but because Mar-a-Lago is an active club, its security has proven particularly difficult for the Secret Service.
RealClearPolitics first contacted the Secret Service with an inquiry about the Mar-a-Lago breach today at noon. A Secret Service spokesperson told RealClearPolitics that the agency will provide a response as soon as possible. (I will add that statement to this story once that response is provided.)
🚨🚨EXCLUSIVE and BREAKING: The Secret Service assigned to protect former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., failed to prevent a juvenile from illegally entering the compound in late December last year, according to three sources in the Secret Service… pic.twitter.com/QbxSDYI7Mq
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) August 30, 2024
Susan Crabtree’s request for comment on her reporting about the juvenile intruder was addressed by the Secret Service.
“In December 2023, the U.S. Secret Service was assisted by the Town of Palm Beach Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to address a property trespass incident by a juvenile on the exterior grounds of the Mar-a-Lago Club, which is limited to authorized club guests only,” the agency said in the statement.
“The juvenile was apprehended and taken into custody by Palm Beach Police Department officers. The U.S. Secret Service takes these matters extremely seriously, and at the time, an investigation was immediately launched, and certain U.S. Secret Service personnel were held accountable in accordance with agency protocols. We remain thankful to the Town of Palm Beach Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for their response and strong partnership.”
‼️ Update: Here is the statement from the Secret Service on the December Mar-a-Lago breach I reported above.
The Secret Service says the intrusion was in the exterior grounds of the Mar-a-Lago Club, which is limited to authorized club guests only. I'm told it was closer to the…
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) August 30, 2024
President Trump was left unprotected by the Secret Service during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, allowing a gunman to climb onto a roof and fire eight shots at him from an elevated position.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following the incident, in which Trump was shot in the ear.
However, only a small number of Secret Service agents have been “disciplined” and placed on paid administrative leave after the assassination attempt in Butler.
