By Steve Neavling
A Secret Service employee and driver for former First Lady Michelle Obama won’t be tried on charges of criminal harassment and witness intimidation, his attorney told CNN.
Douglas Vines was accused of threatening to blackmail a woman he had been dating after she declined to have sex with him. She told police that Vines threatened to deport her and release nude photos of her that she had not consented to.
He was arraigned in Massachusetts in October 2022.
The charges were dismissed against him before the trial started, his attorney, Ron Sullivan, said in a statement.
“Officer Vines is delighted that this case is over, and he is vindicated. He looks forward to returning to the service of his country in protecting US presidents and other dignitaries as an Investigation Protective Officer with the Secret Service,” Sullivan said in a statement.
After the charges were announced, the Secret Service placed Vines on administrative leave and suspended his security clearance.
