MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A senior official from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains in office despite charges of sexual assault of a 15-year-old, the documents obtained by The Intercept revealed on Wednesday.
According to the information based on Maryland court documents and police records, Austin Smith, Executive Director of the DHS’ Interagency Security Committee, was charged with a second degree assault in November, after repeatedly trying to assault his girlfriend's sister. Smith, however, received Probation before Judgement, which gives the defendant technical suspension of the final entry of judgement.
“It is unbelievable and frankly, completely demoralizing to watch my agency protect this guy,” a senior DHS official, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Intercept.
The DHS Interagency Security Committee was set up in 1995, months after Oklahoma bombing which killed over 160 people. The Committee is charged with developing security standards to provide security at US non-military facilities.
