The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been accused by an inspector general’s report of covering up a significant report about the Secret Service’s response to the protest at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Appointed by former President Donald Trump, Inspector General Joseph Cuffari has initiated two investigations into the Secret Service’s role during the peaceful protests.
Jonathan Meyer, the current head lawyer for DHS, denied these claims, stating that the agency will only redact “security sensitive” information but would not prevent Congress from seeing any report they wish to see. However, an anonymous source within DHS claimed that it is the inspector general who has “exclusive authority to determine when to release a report to Congress.
The disputed report, titled “USSS Preparation for and Response to the Events of January 6, 2021,” has been in Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ possession since at least April. Security failures similar to those leading up to the assassination attempt on President Trump on July 13 have also been reported regarding the Capitol protests, with people carrying weapons being spotted outside the White House and Kamala Harris’s car driving by an alleged pipe bomb at DNC headquarters.
In July of 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed that “many Secret Service text messages from January 5 and 6, 2021 were erased as part of a device-replacement program.” Cuffari’s office had previously requested these exact messages to be handed over but discovered they had been deleted.
These revelations contribute to growing dissatisfaction with the Secret Service following numerous security failures during the July 13 assassination attempt, including lack of preparedness and overall incompetence that led to one rallygoer’s death, two injuries, and President Trump narrowly escaping a gunshot. Ultimately, Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned amidst bipartisan backlash for her role in the decline in the quality of the Secret Service.