A Secret Service employee assigned to Vice President JD Vance’s protective detail was placed on administrative leave over a video showing him allegedly divulging “sensitive security information” to a person he believed was a romantic interest.
In the undercover video published by independent journalist James O’Keefe, the Biden administration holdover gave the undercover journalist details that could potentially jeopardize the safety of the vice president, who many expect to be the 2028 Republican nominee.
Tomas Escotto, who said he voted for disgraced former president Joe Biden, divulged sensitive information, including “protective formations, shift schedules, travel plans, & real-time locations,” according to O’Keefe, who posted the video to X on Tuesday.
BREAKING: U.S. Secret Service Agent Assigned to VP JD Vance Leaks Sensitive Security Information to Undercover Reporter.
Escotto is a holdover from the Biden administration and stated that he voted for Joe Biden, while expressing opposition to ICE & the Trump administration’s… pic.twitter.com/AyAjrt3XY4
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 13, 2026
While the agency investigates the incident, the USSS employee has had his security clearance suspended and his access to agency systems and facilities has been revoked, “opening the door to broader concerns about operational security and an agency-wide retraining order,” Fox News reported.
“The U.S. Secret Service has no tolerance for any behavior that could potentially compromise the safety, privacy, or trust of our protectees. This incident is under investigation, and the employee involved has been placed on administrative leave with his clearance suspended and access to agency facilities and systems revoked,” Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said in a statement to Fox News.
“The U.S. Secret Service has also issued an order for all personnel to retake the agency’s required anti-espionage training in order to ensure employees are aware of the threats posed by individuals aiming to exploit agency employees for information about our protective operations,” he added.
“The U.S. Secret Service has a 160-year-old tradition of discretion that sets this agency apart, and we have no tolerance for employees who fail to meet this standard. The U.S. Secret Service deeply apologizes to the Vance family for this violation of their trust and privacy. The faith our protectees place in this agency is not something the U.S. Secret Service takes lightly, and we are committed to taking the necessary actions to ensure that a similar breach of standards does not occur again,” Quinn concluded.
According to O’Keefe, the agent “detailed how the Vice President is physically surrounded, described multiple daily shift changes, & disclosed advance security procedures.”
“In addition to past movements, the agent revealed future travel plans, sometimes days in advance. Escotto even sent images from Air Force Two while onboard with the Vice President,” the journalist wrote on X. “Despite acknowledging that he signed paperwork prohibiting the disclosure of sensitive information, the Secret Service agent repeatedly shared details with someone he believed was a casual romantic interest.”
“While the safety of the Vice President and his family was always our top priority, what OMG uncovered raises serious questions about operational security, protocol compliance, and oversight within the U.S. Secret Service,” O’Keefe said, adding that his team coordinated with USSS before publication and that “sensitive operational details” were redacted at the agency’s request.
The video comes amid an atmosphere of heightened political violence, which continues to be stoked by Democrats who are attacking federal immigration enforcement agents on a daily basis and demonizing members of the Trump administration, including the vice president.
- Schumer hustles bill to put ‘Pride’ flag on same status level as U.S., military, POW/MIA flags - February 17, 2026
- Globetrotting Gavin usurps Trump’s authority, inks climate agreement with Brits - February 17, 2026
- Jeffries snaps at left-wing interviewer when put on the spot - February 16, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.