By Steve Neavling
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had her bag stolen while dining at a Washington, D.C., restaurant on Sunday evening, raising concerns about a possible security lapse involving a high-ranking Cabinet official, CNN first reported.
Noem acknowledged the theft Monday while attending the White House Easter Egg Roll, saying the matter had not yet been resolved.
A Secret Service review of surveillance footage from the Capital Burger restaurant showed a man wearing a medical mask stealing her bag and walking out, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.
The thief made off with several personal and official items, including Noem’s driver’s license, medication, apartment keys, passport, DHS access badge, makeup bag, blank checks, and about $3,000 in cash.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Noem had withdrawn the money to treat her family while they were visiting the capital.
“Her entire family was in town including her children and grandchildren – she was using the withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts,” the spokesperson said.
The Secret Service has launched an investigation and is working to track any use of Noem’s financial accounts, the law enforcement source said.
Security experts say the incident should prompt a closer look at the protocols used to protect Cabinet officials.
“This is a security breach that actually has high consequences, and it needs immediate and further review by the Secret Service and DHS, and other law enforcement partners,” said Jonathan Wackrow, a former Secret Service agent and CNN law enforcement analyst.
“If necessary, the Secret Service will need to make operational changes on how they deal with these types of private events moving forward,” Wackrow said in an interview on CNN’s The Source.
He added that Noem remains “at higher risk for targeted threats, both by foreign and domestic actors, and just her public profile alone makes her a symbolic target.”
