Secret Service deleted texts from Jan. 5 and 6, 2021, after watchdog sought records

A U.South. Hugger-mugger Service agent stands past as Marine 1 departs with President Biden aboard every bit he departs the White House in September 2021. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

A U.S. Clandestine Service agent stands by every bit Marine One departs with President Biden aboard as he departs the White House in September 2021.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

A watchdog says the U.S. Secret Service deleted many of the text letters sent during a two-twenty-four hour period period surrounding the Jan. six set on on the Capitol.

The inspector full general for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency, told Congress the messages were deleted later on his office asked for them.

The discovery was made as function of the watchdog'south investigation into the deadly siege terminal year and volition probable play into the probe being led by the House select committee investigating the assail.

The news was first reported by The Intercept.

"The Section notified us that many U.S. Secret Service (USSS) text messages from January 5 and 6, 2021, were erased as function of a device-replacement plan," Inspector General Joseph Cuffari wrote to top members of congressional Homeland Security committees. "The USSS erased those messages after OIG requested records of electronic communications from the USSS, as function of our evaluation of the events at the Capitol on January 6."

Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, disputed the IG's account.

"The insinuation that the Clandestine Service maliciously deleted text messages following a request is false, Guglielmi said in a statement. "In fact, the Secret Service has been fully cooperating with the OIG in every respect – whether it be interviews, documents, emails, or texts."

The spokesman said the bureau had started to reset its mobile phones in January 2021 as role of a months-long migration plan. The agency said messages were not requested until the following month. It also disputed whatever claims the agency hasn't cooperated fully with the watchdog'due south probe.

Guglielmi said the bureau provided the IG with approximately 786,176 unredacted emails, and 7,678 squad chat messages by Cloak-and-dagger Service employees referencing conversations and operational details pertaining to Jan. 6 and preparations leading upwardly to it.

Testimony from a witness before the House select committee investigating the insurrection in June raised new questions about the Secret Service'due south role on the day of the mortiferous siege.

Former White House adjutant Cassidy Hutchinson said a physical altercation took place between then-President Trump and his Secret Service item equally he fought to get to the Capitol subsequently telling a crowd at a rally he addressed to march on Congress.

Hutchinson, who was superlative aide to and then-Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, said in the June 28 hearing that Trump'south atomic number 82 Secret Service agent Bobby Engel attempted to stop Trump as he tried to bring together his supporters marching to the Capitol.

"The president reached up toward the front end of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm, said, 'Sir, y'all demand to take your hand off the steering bicycle. We're going back to the West Wing. Nosotros're not going to the Capitol,'" Hutchinson testified. "Mr. Trump then used his free paw to lunge toward Bobby Engel."

Clandestine Service sources take reportedly disputed some of Hutchinson's testimony, but none have testified to that nether oath.

That account sparked discussion about additional evidence of interest to the committee. The text messages might accept been able to clear up questions related to Hutchinson's testimony.

Hutchinson besides detailed in that public hearing that the Cloak-and-dagger Service was enlightened that rioters were armed at Trump'due south rally at the Ellipse. That could signal a lack of communication with other law enforcement agencies who were unprepared for the riot.

In his letter to the Senate and Firm Homeland Security committees, Cuffari offered to brief members on the new developments around the text messages.

The chairman of the Senate commission, Sen. Gary Peters, said he'll encounter with Cuffari personally.

"Nosotros need to get to the bottom of whether the Secret Service destroyed federal records or the Department of Homeland Security obstructed oversight," Peters, D-Mich., said in a statement. "The DHS Inspector General needs these records to do its independent oversight and the public deserves to have a full picture of what occurred on January 6th."

A spokesman for the House Homeland Security panel said it besides expects to see with Cuffari.

The chairman of that committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., likewise heads up the January. 6 panel, likely ramping upwards its investigation into the new bear witness.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2022/07/14/1111618620/secret-service-erased-texts-from-two-day-period-spanning-jan-6-attack-watchdog-s

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