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NOOSE ALLEGEDLY FOUND AT SECRET SERVICE TRAINING CENTER

By Rebecca Carr | Monday, April 28, 2008, 03:03 PM

The U.S. Secret Service has placed a white agent on leave after an African American employee reported finding a noose hanging at the service’s main training facility outside the nation’s capital.

The service has acknowledged “an allegation of misconduct” at its J.J. Rowley Training Center in Beltsville, Md., and that an employee last week was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. The employee is a veteran agent with the service, according to fellow agents.

The noose was found by an African American officer in the uniform division of the service during the week of April 14, according to those familiar with the alleged incident. That division protects the White House and surrounding grounds. He reported the incident to his supervisor and it was sent up the chain of command. He declined to comment for this story.

After learning about the alleged incident, Cox Newspapers asked the Secret Service whether a noose had been discovered at the training center.

“In response to your question, there has been an allegation of misconduct at our training center,” said Edwin M. Donovan, assistant special agent in charge of government and public affairs.

“The employee involved has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by our Office of Professional Responsibility, which serves as the agency’s internal affairs office,” Donovan wrote in an e-mail response. “At the conclusion of the investigation, additional information may be available.”

The alleged incident happened as U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson is expected to decide next month whether to sanction the service for failing to turn over evidence in a long-running lawsuit alleging that the service created a racially hostile atmosphere that tolerated discrimination.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Atlanta native Reginald G. Moore, alleges that the Secret Service routinely discriminates against black agents seeking promotion in favor of white agents who scored lower on promotional exams.

Nearly 60 black agents have submitted sworn statements to the court in support of the lawsuit’s allegations.

Robinson has already sanctioned the service three times since the discovery process of the lawsuit began 3 1/2 years ago.

The service denies the allegations and is now appealing all of the sanctions.

The Office of Professional Responsibility, previously called the inspection division, figured prominently during the discovery process of the lawsuit.

Carrie Hunnicutt, an inspector in charge of searching for documents sought in the lawsuit, testified in February that she destroyed original evidence sought by the plaintiffs by placing documents in a “burn bag” just two days before she was scheduled to testify in the case.

Justice Department lawyers defending the service have said that the destroyed documents should not be considered lost evidence because Hunnicutt transferred information from the documents to a computer database.

But lawyers at Hogan & Hartson and Relman & Dane, two Washington law firms representing the plaintiffs for free, contested that assertion, arguing that no one will ever know if the database is complete because the original evidence was destroyed by Hunnicutt.

The allegation that a noose was discovered supports the essence of the discrimination alleged in the lawsuit, said Jennifer Klar, a lawyer at Relman & Dane.

“We are appalled but unfortunately not surprised that a noose was prominently displayed recently in a secret service training center,” Klar said in an interview.

“This incident of racial hatred is troubling in an agency that has the important duty of protecting world leaders of all races, including our own leaders such as (presidential candidate) Barack Obama and (Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice,” Klar said.

“This racist incident is a reminder that long time discrimination in the secret service has created an atmosphere where such hateful acts occur all too regularly,” Klar said.

“It is time for the Secret Service to put a stop to acts of racism by addressing and healing the racially charged environment that has been created over the years,” Klar said.

The Secret Service has fought the lawsuit each step since it was filed eight years ago.

“The Secret Service is extremely proud of the accomplishments of our diverse work force and our record on diversity,” said Eric Zahren, a spokesman for the service in an e-mail document defending the service from the accusations in the lawsuit.

“The Secret Service has not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” Zahern said. “We are extremely proud of the contributions of our diverse work force and we will continue to promote the most qualified people.”

Moore, the lead plaintiff in the case who grew up in civil rights movement in Atlanta, was promoted after filing his lawsuit in 2000.

Moore is now in the service’s senior executive service. He has said that he will keep fighting until the service’s promotional system is permanently changed so that all agents of all colors have an equal chance at promotion.

Permalink | Comments (42) | Post your comment |

Comments

By LouR

April 28, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

Simply another cancer ridden government agency.

By Dan Metcalfe

April 29, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

Isn’t this the Secret Service facility at which Bush regularly exercises on his mountain bike, Rebecca? If so, then is it entirely clear what the intended symbolism was?

By Perplexed

April 29, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this

It just seems odd that the SS wouldn’t want to get this cleared up as quickly as possible.

If there really IS no racism in the service, why wouldn’t they just say “here’s your info, now get the he11 out of my office.”?

By More Truth

April 29, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

Very sick agency, much like the president they protect.

(Just wait until the truth about 9/11 breaks open.)

By Ahmed El

April 29, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

When there is a statue of the co-founder of the KKK (Albert Pike) which stands out side of the building of the Justice Department, this shouldnot shock any Black person or any other person of color. Since G. W. Bush has been in office the true face of America has been exposed for all the world to see. A face we Blacks have always seen!!

By Gloria Y. Fredericks

April 29, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

It is neither surprisng nor disappointing that racism is alive and well in the SS agency. The US is run by thugs and hoodlams, and corruption remains its hallmark. It is a shame that in the 21st century the Secret Service would at least be cognizant of what diversity requires, but it is one thing to disclaim racism, and another thing to be truthful about not being racists. The lies, dishonesty, and inhumanity in this agency is incomprehensible, but remember that EVERYONE will ultimately have to answer to God for his/her actions. Why would one ethnic group believe that it is superior to all others? The only thing superior about them is their superior ability to be unfair to others and to do wrong, to trample others and to steal and loot and to tamper with the integrity of others. The Secret Service is yet another agency where discrimination and injustice abound. Who expects anything better?

By Cat Callahan

April 29, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

SS not racist? Could have fooled me! Interesting that Martin Luther King, John and Bobby Kennedy were all shot and killed when nothing ever happened to the right wing of the political spectrum. Yes, I know Ronald Reagan was shot, but he received immediate medical care and was not shot in the head as was Kennedy. Also, if you check SS officer William Greer’s position, you will see why many believe he was the true assassin of JFK!

By Yogi

April 29, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

“Interesting that Martin Luther King, John and Bobby Kennedy were all shot and killed when nothing ever happened to the right wing of the political spectrum.”

It’s always left wingers getting assassinated because it is secretive members of the extreme right that are doing the assassinations. I wouldn’t be surprised if the KKK or the World Anti-Communist League infiltrates organizations like the SS in order to secretly pull off assassinations.

By mark

April 29, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Racism… Alive and well in America at the top of our country’s establishment.

No surprise, just makes me want to vomit.

This is one “blue collar white man” who will be voting for Obama in November. He’s the best shot we have at making true progress at restoring our country’s potential.

By mark

April 29, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Racism… Alive and well in America at the top of our country’s establishment.

No surprise, just makes me want to vomit.

These are the people that we are supposed to trust to protect the Obama family? Pretty scary.

This is one “blue collar white man” who will be voting for Obama in November. He’s the best shot we have at making true progress at restoring our country’s potential.

By maria

April 29, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

Good for you Mark. Can you convince more Blue Collar workers like you where our bread is really buttered.

By Jim

April 29, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

If you wonder where Rev Wright get his hateful information here lies the answer,enough said

By lance

May 2, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

I have been told that it is widely known through the ranks there, that if you’re not Irish, then you’re not in.

Not sure if the culprit in this noose incident is an O’something, or Mc something….but a person only participates in such a racist overt act if they feel comfortable in that environment to do so.

By B

May 5, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

This was way more interesting when I thought it said “Moose allegedly found…”

By vince

May 6, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

this is happening all over united states, wow it just happen in my engine house and at a different engine house also about three months ago. it’s sad, but to make changes will take all of us, to kick & check this type of stuff in the butt. wake up peoples of united states, and speak out loud and clear about this type of crap, and know that christ have your back forever………

By M

July 3, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

Hmmm, Gloria, you sound like a racist…

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