A security violation occurred in Los Angeles, California on September 21, 2021, when a man armed with a firearm unintentionally neared the SUV of former President Barack Obama outside the Mother Wolf restaurant. The Secret Service appeared briefly unprepared, sparking questions about the robustness of their security measures.
The armed man, a security guard at a bar mitzvah, descended to the street level after hearing about the presence of federal agents nearby. Reports suggest that he observed two Secret Service members stationed separately from a black SUV bearing Department of Homeland Security plates. On closer inspection, he noticed former President Obama working on a laptop in the SUV’s backseat.
Upon recognizing his close proximity to the former President while armed, the guard hastily withdrew, acknowledging the Secret Service agents as he left. He pointed out that there was a noticeable gap in security, given that no agents were positioned behind the SUV or guarding the stairwell. The guard remarked that, if he had malicious intent, he could have easily opened the SUV door and posed a risk to Obama.
About a half-hour following the guard’s encounter, his employer requested that he present his credentials and concealed weapon permit to the Secret Service. After thorough verification, both were confirmed valid. According to the guard, the agents appeared upset by the situation.
Despite the armed guard’s proximity to Obama, the Secret Service affirmed that the former President was never under threat. The agency, countering claims in its official response, stated “At no time were any Secret Service protectees in the vehicle while the individual was walking down the alleyway.” They further mentioned that the reports of a security lapse were “inaccurate.”
This incident adds to the Secret Service’s growing list of challenges, following two instances earlier this year where individuals were able to bypass multiple security layers in attempts on former President Donald Trump’s life. The agency’s competence has been called into question, with Senator Gary Peters noting during a recent Senate Committee hearing on the agency’s lapses, “The consequences of these failures were dire.”
The Secret Service, responsible for safeguarding current and former U.S. Presidents, has been the subject of multiple high-profile security violations in recent years. A notable breach occurred in 2014, when Omar Gonzalez, an armed Iraq War veteran, leaped over the White House fence and penetrated deep into the building before being apprehended. This incident led to the resignation of the then Secret Service director and a comprehensive revamp of the agency’s security procedures.
While additional details about the recent Obama-related security breach remain undisclosed by the Secret Service, the agency assures that it will persist in assessing and enhancing its security protocols to avert future incidents.
