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Comm. Basham Testifies Before Congress on White House Security Breaches
Former Director of the Secret Service, Commisioner Ralph Basham Gives Perspective on White House Intruder
Due to his extensive career with the Secret Service, Mr. Basham was asked to testify before the House Oversight Committee for Governement Reform regarding the recent White House security incidents. Commissioner Basham sat alongside current Secret Service director, Julia Pierson, as he gave insight from his near 40 year career with the agency and elite security companies:
"Among all of the qualities and values fundamental to the Secret Service culture, perhaps none is
more important to its success than that of intensive self-examination. This is an agency which
has never been reluctant to “red team” incidents – those of high consequence and those more
routine – to find opportunities for improvement in the way it conducts its business, the way it
trains its people, and the tools that it uses to accomplish its incredibly important mission"Read his full testimony here.
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W. Ralph Basham Featured on CNN
Basham Discusses White House Security Breach with CNN's Jake Tapper
Two White House security breaches within 48 hours have raised some concerns about the safety of 1600 Pennyslvania Avenue. In the more serious incident, 42-year-old Omar Gonzalez, an alleged troubled Iraq war veteran, jumped the White House fence and made it inside via the unlocked north door. Commisioner Basham is the former Director of the Secret Service and cited the fence as the problem, not the agency's abilities:
I don't think anyone in this country wants to see a White House that's got concrete walls, and Concertina wire across the top, and guard towers on the corners. That is unacceptable. And that's the challenge that the Secret Service has.
Source: CNN