Secret Service Director Resigns Amid Controversy

Secret Service Director Julia Pierson has resigned, according to a statement from the Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.

Johnson continued to say he would appoint Joseph Clancy as acting director.

“I think it’s in the best interest of the Secret Service and the American public if I step down,” Pierson said in an interview. “Congress has lost confidence in my ability to run the agency. The media has made it clear that this is what they expected. … It’s painful to leave as the agency is reeling from a significant security breach.”

President Obama has called Pierson and expressed “his appreciation for her service to the agency and the country,” according to Press Secretary Josh Earnest. “The president concluded that new leadership of that agency was required.” he added.

The resignation comes amid controversy surrounding several major security breaches, including a man armed with a knife making it over the fence and entering the White House before being tackled by an off-duty agent, a man in a Pokemon costume making it over the fence, and a toddler squeezing through the gates.

Many more breaches have come to light after the armed man jumping the fence, including a blunder last month where an armed ex-convict got into an elevator at the Center for Disease Control with President Obama, and a poor response to a gunman shooting at the White House in 2011.

Pierson’s actions are under investigation by the House Oversight Committee, and she has said to the committee that the intrusion was “unacceptable.”

“I take full responsibility. It will never happen again.” she said in a meeting Tuesday.

Secretary Johnson said he has named a panel of independent experts to review the security breaches and make recommendations for improvement, and will have them by the end of the year.

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