Members of Congress are finding little reason to begin trusting the Secret Service again after a series of blunders and employee problems.
The House Oversight and Government Reform committee discovered this week that Alvin “A.T.” Smith, who was ousted as deputy director of the agency, is still paid by the Secret Service, The Washington Post reports.
Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy testified that Smith, a 29-year veteran of the agency, is still being paid by Secret Service, even though he has been detailed within the Homeland Security to work with CBP.
“You have done, Mr. Clancy, a very good job of building trust and confidence, and it’s flushed down the toilet when I read and hear about these things. You said to us … that we’re implementing fundamental changes,” committee chairman Jason Chaffetz said. “Don’t ever come back here to Congress and tell me that you have a financial problem when you’ve got A.T. Smith on your payroll and you say you don’t have enough money. You shouldn’t have to pay for that out of your budget.”
The committee discovered another high-level agent who was forced out also is still on the payroll, working for ICE.
