Joe Biden is expected to be protected by the Secret Service with a new team that is more familiar to him and will replace some agents over concerns that they may be politically linked to Donald Trump.
With a change of guard and the man to be guarded in the White House, Biden’s security detail will undergo some personnel changes, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
Several “ senior ” Secret Service agents are on hand to return to the president-elect’s protection team, and Biden knows these agents well because they guarded him and his family during his time as vice president, the article said. is echoed in a report from CNN, citing a law enforcement source.
Reassignments and promotions are common during transition periods between presidential administrations and are intended to increase the comfort and confidence between a president-elect and his security team, who closely monitor the commander-in-chief, including during private moments and sensitive discussions.
While staff changes are typical, several incidents have reportedly contributed to the heightened concern among Biden’s allies that some agents and officers could be loyal to Trump.
Some members of the president have reportedly urged their colleagues not to wear masks while traveling, for example – despite official federal government guidelines on Covid-19 – because Trump himself belittled wearing a mask and insisted on wearing a mask for months before entering the U.S. was seen publicly. .
In what was described as an “unprecedented” move, the Secret Service had authorized former detail chief Anthony Ornato to temporarily leave his role and serve as Deputy White House Chief of Staff.
Ornato was one of the coordinators of the June photo for which Trump marched through Lafayette Square in Washington DC to stand with a Bible – after peaceful protesters were forced out of the area by troops on federal command, both in political terms. circles and caused a stir among the public. ..
Ornato also helped plan many Trump campaign rallies, even as Covid-19 ripped through the US and rallies were discouraged or outright banned. In addition to members of the public, many members of the Secret Service contracted or were exposed to the coronavirus.
The Secret Service declined to discuss the reports. Biden has had a security detail since March, when he campaigned for the Democratic nomination.
While former vice presidents get a security detail six months after leaving office, he formally requested protection from the Secret Service after protesters ran to the stage at a campaign rally, CNN said.