Secret Service Study from 1990s Found White House Vulnerable to Fence-Jumpers
Photo Credit: APThe Secret Service commissioned a classified mock attack two decades ago that found an easy way to pierce the White House security zone: Overwhelm Secret Service officers on the compound with six to eight attackers climbing over the fence at the same time.
That vulnerability remains, despite the creation of specially trained counterassault and surveillance teams recommended at the time, according to government officials who were briefed on the findings and requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information.
Securing the White House grounds has been further complicated over the past two years by severe staffing shortages and high turnover rates in the officer division tasked with patrolling the compound, according to these officials.
On Monday, federal prosecutors alleged that a man who jumped the fence and ran into the White House on Friday was keeping 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete in his car, which was parked blocks away.
A prosecutor also said that the man, Omar Jose Gonzalez, 42, had been arrested in Wythe County, Va., in July while carrying a sawed-off shotgun and several other firearms, as well as a map with a line pointing toward the White House. And in August, Secret Service officers saw Gonzalez near the south fence of the White House, carrying a hatchet in the back waistband of his pants. Gonzalez agreed to let the officers search his vehicle, where they found camping gear and two dogs, then released him, a prosecutor said.
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