Posted on 02/28/2002 12:10:56 PM PST by Utah Girl
The Secret Service acknowledged Wednesday that two souvenir-seeking agents goofed Sunday when they misplaced a sheaf of papers detailing security plans for Vice President Dick Cheney's appearance at the Olympic Closing Ceremony.
But the agency downplayed the importance of the document -- claiming the snafu did not constitute a major security breach -- and refused to say what action will be taken against the agents, who have not been identified.
"Even if this thing were released, it would not compromise our overall security plan," said Brian Marr, Secret Service spokesman in Washington, D.C. "This was just a lapse, and we're going to reiterate this to all our people that this type of stuff cannot be tolerated."
Sunday afternoon -- hours before the Olympic finale -- the two agents stopped in at Traps, a skateboard shop a few blocks from Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the ceremony took place. Each bought an $11 Olympic hat, then left, said Traps owner Clayton Greenhalgh.
A few minutes later, Greenhalgh found the security plan, titled "site assignment log," lying on his front counter.
The log described seating arrangements at the stadium for Cheney, his wife and daughter, and other dignitaries. It also detailed more than a dozen areas of the stadium where Cheney was to visit.
The document listed the names of 17 Secret Service agents who were to provide security, where they would be stationed, and their specific assignments. The agents named in the log represented just a fraction of the "hundreds" assigned to Rice-Eccles Stadium, Marr said.
Greenhalgh -- who eventually returned the log to the Secret Service office in downtown Salt Lake City -- said Wednesday that his life has been a whirlwind since The Salt Lake Tribune first reported the story Monday.
"It's been fun. I've seen my face all over the place," Greenhalgh said. He has appeared on ABC News, MSNBC and the "Today Show," and been interviewed by radio stations in Cleveland, Seattle and Virginia Beach, Va. The story has been carried by newspapers across the country.
"It's helping business a lot," he said, but added that the prospect of financial gain was not the reason he notified The Tribune of the agents' gaffe. "People have a right to know about this."
| To find all articles indexed using "Olympics List" | ||||
| click here >>> | SL 2002 Olympics | <<< click here | ||
| SL 2002 home page...(To view all FR Bump Lists, click here) | ||||
Cannot or WILL not be tolerated? These two clowns better not still be on my tax bill.
This sounds like a parent talking to a bunch of pre-schoolers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.