The Bush White House would have us believe that the eviction of three law-abiding citizens from a presidential event because of a bumper sticker was a reasonable move. It was, WH press secretary Scott McClellan said, just a “volunteer” who was “concerned that these people were coming to the event to disrupt the event.”
The Secret Service apparently believes it’s more serious than that. In fact, the agency has opened a criminal probe into the matter.
The Secret Service in Washington has launched an investigation into the ouster of three people from a presidential speech in Denver by a man who acted like an agent, the attorney for the three said.
Attorney Dan Recht said Thursday he had been contacted by Mark Hughes of the Secret Service in Washington, who wanted to arrange new interviews with his clients.
The Secret Service began questioning the relevant individuals almost immediately after the incident and reportedly told the Recht that the thug who accosted them was a Republican Party staffer. The man’s identity has still not been revealed. Recht, however, hopes to change that.
Recht said Hughes of the Washington Secret Service told him the agency sent investigators to Denver and they conducted interviews Wednesday and Thursday.
Recht said he told Hughes he’d make his clients available to agents, “but first, tell us who the mystery man is and who trained him.” He said he found it “disturbing” that officials still refuse to reveal the man’s name.
It’s worth re-emphasizing that the thug in question dressed in a dark suit, wore an earpiece, and threatened the Denver Three with arrest if they “did anything.” And yes, impersonating a Secret Service agent is a crime.
But let’s also not lose sight of the bigger picture: someone had to train and direct this guy. Just as importantly, a top Bush aide has suggested that an official working for the White House was directly responsible for the policy that led to this fiasco.
Maybe now would be a good time for the national media to show some interest in this?