A top House Republican Sunday said it is “inexcusable” that a man was able to gain access to the White House on Friday without the Secret Service stopping him, and he believes Congress will launch a investigation.
“I have great respect for the Secret Service,” Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told “Fox News Sunday.” “But this is absolutely inexcusable.”
King, who recently chaired the House Homeland Security Committee, said he is “sure” the current chairman, Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, “will be holding a hearing as to what happened.”
The Secret Service reported that Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas, scaled a fence on the north lawn of the White House, sprinted across the lawn and entered the mansion.
Gonzalez did not have a gun, but was carrying a knife.
“He could have had a bomb,” King said on Fox. “He could have had [an explosive-laden] vest on.”
King is among several lawmakers who have criticized the Secret Service over the incident. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said he’ll look into the matter in his role as chair of a Government Oversight subcommittee on national security.
On Fox, King suggested the Secret Service had plenty of time to respond to Gonzalez, but appeared to do nothing.
“I believe it takes 35 to 40 seconds to run across the lawn, a dog can be released in 4 seconds, the sensors are working there, and then that he made it all the way to the White House and actually entered the front door,” King said.
President Obama and his family were not home at the time.
Secret Service officials said on Saturday they are investigating the incident and have increased security in and around the White House.
