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Secret Service Posts Agents to White House Without Background Checks

© Flickr / Gage SkidmoreThe White House in Washington, D.C.
The White House in Washington, D.C. - Sputnik International
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US Secret Service posted up to 60 agents to the White House and other sensitive security positions prior to finishing their background checks, local media reported on Wednesday.

Journalists are evacuated from the press briefing room after an apparent threat at the White House in Washington June 9, 2015 - Sputnik International
White House Press Briefing Evacuated After Phone Threat
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The under-vetted officers started working at the agency that protects US and visiting world leaders amid a backlog following recent security lapses, NBC News reported.

The Secret Service officials said, however, they will complete background checks by the end of the week, according to media reports.

The Secret Service has recently come under scrutiny after a string of high-profile security lapses, which included allowing a person with a weapon and criminal history board an elevator with US President Barack Obama, and men jumping a White House fence.

Theled to former Secret Service Director Julia Pierson's resignation in October 2014 and to the dismissal of several agency executives in January 2015.

The incidents, however, continued. On May 14, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed in a report that Secret Service supervisors Marc Connolly and George Ogilvie impaired by alcohol drove into the White House grounds on March 4, disrupting an active investigation scene.

On June 2, US government watchdog Judicial Watch said in a statement that newly released government documents confirm Secret Service chief Mark Sullivan misused agents to guard a lady friend in 2011.

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