Two safety officers who had been in South Korea to arrange for US President Joe Biden’s go to had been despatched dwelling after “drunkenly assaulting” a South Korean, officers mentioned.
“The Secret Service is conscious of an off-duty incident involving two staff which can represent potential coverage violations,” mentioned Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the company. He added that the incident had “no affect” on the president’s journey.
South Korean police mentioned one of many accused was being investigated for an incident within the early hours of Thursday after getting right into a battle over a taxi in entrance of the Grand Hyatt resort.
It’s believed Biden would keep within the resort throughout his go to to South Korea.
The armed bodily safety specialist and an agent had been allegedly concerned within the incident that included a heated argument with the taxi driver.
“We have now very strict protocols and insurance policies for all staff and we maintain ourselves to the very best skilled requirements,” Guglielmi mentioned.
Biden arrived in South Korea on Friday and is about to journey to Japan on Sunday as a part of a visit to bolster ties with regional safety allies.
Secret Service unruly abroad habits
The Secret Service guards the president. Thursday’s incident is just not the primary through which brokers have been concerned abroad.
In 2012 the Washington Submit reported Secret Service brokers had been despatched dwelling from President Barack Obama’s journey to Colombia for misconduct, together with getting drunk and hiring prostitutes.
Three Secret Service brokers had been despatched dwelling from the Netherlands in 2014 after one among them was discovered handed out after an evening of ingesting in Amsterdam.
lo/rt (AP, AFP, Reuters)