An erratic and apparently violent rant by a female Secret Service agent earlier this week has raised questions about the agency’s hiring practices and recent efforts to increase the number of female agents.
Looks like Michelle Herceg had a bad Monday. Secret Service agents arrived at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, around 9 a.m. as part of security for Vice President Kamala Harris, who was scheduled to depart from the base later that morning.
Even before Harris arrived, Herceg began exhibiting strange behavior. According to reports, Herceg accessed another agent’s cell phone and continued to delete apps on that phone. The man eventually got his cell phone back and otherwise continued working.
After that, Herceg reportedly began exhibiting other strange behavior, such as talking to himself and hiding behind curtains. She reportedly began throwing various items, including feminine napkins, and warned her co-workers that they needed to listen to God because they were going to burn in hell. , a source told Susan Crabtree. real clear politics.
When the special agent in charge tried to intervene, Ms. Herceg allegedly began screaming and insisted that other female agents in charge of security at Harris support her and allow her to continue working.
Then the situation seemed to have reached a tipping point. Deputies suggested that Herceg may have some mental health issues, and SAIC relieved Herceg of his duties.
Herceg did not take the news well.
Crabtree reported that Herceg punched SAIC in the chest and knocked him to the ground, where he began punching her repeatedly. Other agents then tried to restrain Herceg, but she became concerned because her service weapon was still in its holster.
Officers were eventually able to handcuff Herceg, seize her firearm and escort her from the premises, Crabtree reported.
“She completely lost her temper,” a source told RCP.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the agency, said a “U.S. Secret Intelligence Service special agent who assisted the Vice President’s departure from Joint Base Andrews” exhibited “disturbing” behavior and that he was “removed from duty.” ” was the only thing he admitted. He offered few other details because the agency is treating the case as a “medical matter.”
“The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and health of its employees very seriously,” he said.
Guglielmi’s statement did not name the operatives or use pronouns that would provide clues about their gender.
Guglielmi may not want to talk about the gender of his agents, but many others do. “There are DEI concerns among the USSS community regarding the hiring of this agent,” Crabtree wrote in a tweet thread about the incident.
Not only did Herceg allegedly exhibit “other strange behavior prior to this incident,” but she may have been hired as part of a recent push to increase the number of female agents. The Secret Service is one of many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that 30×30 pledgeaims for women to make up 30% of the military by 2030.
Even with the emphasis on hiring more female agents, reporter Ronald Kessler, who has been covering the Secret Service for some time, believes Hercek “should never have been hired.”
Indeed, Herzek has a troubled history. In 2016, when she was a senior corporal with the Dallas Police Department, she filed for $1 million in damages. discrimination lawsuitAmong other charges, she alleges that another officer assaulted her and that other colleagues were “targeted” and “treated.” [her] It’s not very favorable,” because she’s a woman.
”[DPD] “Based on an atmosphere in which male executives are in charge, regardless of rank or ability, unprofessional conduct, such as friendships and unprofessional workplace relationships between men and women, is tolerated,” the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit never made any progress. A trial court rejected the ruling in 2021, and the Texas Court of Appeals subsequently upheld the lower court’s decision. The appellate court then declined to rehear the case the following year.
Kessler said the lawsuit alone should have been enough to “remove” Herceg from consideration by the Secret Service. Competition to be accepted into an agency is so fierce that “you have to have a really pure track record,” he argued.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the Secret Service has “lowered its hiring standards to allow more women to qualify and thereby meet the Secret Service’s 30×30 commitment.” ‘ He denied that. He said any accusations to the contrary were “completely false.”
Mr. Herczek did not respond to requests for comment from the New York Post.
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