Chaffetz has ‘huge’ questions about Secret Service’s leadership

A Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee wants answers after a man jumped the White House fence Friday evening and made it through the door before being apprehended.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said Friday’s White House breach was “totally unacceptable” and raised “huge” questions about leadership at the Secret Service.

{mosads}”Been investigating the Secret Service for some time. Frustrating. Good men and women but HUGE question marks for their leadership,” Chaffetz tweeted. “This is not the first time Secret Service has shown too much vulnerability. There are other unreported incidents. I will continue to push.”

The Secret Service evacuated the White House Friday evening after a man jumped the fence at the executive mansion, raced across the lawn and entered the executive mansion. 

Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, was unarmed when he was apprehended around 7 p.m. President Obama was not in the White House at the time of the intrusion, but had left the mansion on his way to Camp David not long before.

Among other questions, Chaffetz is wondering how Gonzalez was able to get through the doors.

“Was the door open?” he asked. “Seriously. It was open?”

Gonzalez, who was said to be unarmed, has been charged with unlawful entry into the White House complex. His motive was not immediately clear.