President-elect Donald Trump is eyeing a few candidates to fill the spot of director of the U.S. Secret Service, an agency that has been highly scrutinized following two apparent assassination attempts on Trump.
One of those people who spoke out against the Secret Service — podcaster Podcaster Dan Bongino — is a possible candidate, according to a CNN report.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent himself, in in consideration along with Sean Curran, the head of Trump’s current detail, and Robert Engel, the former head of Trump’s detail.
The next lead of the Secret Service is under the glare of the spotlight as the agency has had to deal with failures and missteps of late.
In particular, many failures came to light in July when an assassin’s bullet grazed Trump’s ear and killed a spectator at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
That assassination attempt led to the resignation of then-Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Ronald Rowe is now the acting Secret Service director.
Morale is apparently low at the agency whose agents had intense schedules throughout the campaign season.
There have been calls for a restructuring of the agency by members of Congress as well as independent review panel under the Department of Homeland Security. They recommended someone from the outside to lead the agency.
Bongino criticized Cheatle and accused her of “putting politics ahead of presidential protection” and added she was “utterly unqualified.”
Bongino said there have been no formal conversations regarding the position.
Bongino, a Trump supporter, was part of the Secret Service for more than 10 years.
While some have praised his work as an agent, his lack of administrative experience is a concern.
The same holds true for Curran.
Another issue concerning a possible road block to a nomination is Trump may want to keep him on as head of his protection detail, a source told CNN.
Engel and former Secret Service Assistant Director Tony Ornato played important roles in the investigation into the Jan. 6 riot.
Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified Ornato relayed to her Trump had attacked Engel after Engel told him he could not go to the Capitol that day.
Engel told the House committee he didn’t remember the conversation or that Trump had lunged at him.
