A security breach took place in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, September 21, 2021, when an armed man unknowingly approached former President Barack Obama’s SUV outside the Mother Wolf restaurant. The Secret Service detail was momentarily unprepared, prompting concerns about security protocols.
After hearing that federal agents were nearby, the man, a security guard for a bar mitzvah, had gone downstairs to investigate. According to reports, he noticed two Secret Service agents standing away from a black SUV marked with Department of Homeland Security plates. Upon closer inspection, he realized former President Obama was using a laptop in the backseat.
The guard became alarmed when he realized he was armed and in close proximity to the former President. He swiftly retreated, acknowledging the Secret Service agents before exiting the area. The guard noted that there was a clear security lapse, as no one was positioned behind the SUV or covering the stairwell. He acknowledged that, had he harbored harmful intentions, he could have easily opened the door and posed a threat to Obama.
Roughly 30 minutes after the guard’s discovery, his employer asked him to provide his credentials and his concealed weapon permit to the Secret Service. After a thorough check, both were confirmed as legitimate. The agents, according to the guard, seemed embarrassed by the incident.
Despite the armed guard’s close proximity to Obama, the Secret Service maintained that the former President was never in danger. In an official statement, the agency responded to the claims, saying, “At no time were any Secret Service protectees in the vehicle while the individual was walking down the alleyway.” They also noted that reports of a security lapse were “inaccurate.”
This incident comes as the Secret Service faces increased scrutiny following two attempts on former President Donald Trump’s life earlier this year. In both cases, individuals bypassed multiple layers of security, raising concerns about the agency’s effectiveness. “The consequences of these failures were dire,” stated Senator Gary Peters during a recent Senate Committee hearing on the agency’s shortcomings.
The Secret Service, tasked with protecting current and former U.S. presidents, has faced a string of high-profile security lapses in recent years. One of the most infamous breaches occurred in 2014, when Omar Gonzalez, an Iraq War veteran armed with a knife, jumped the White House fence and made it deep into the building before being apprehended. This led to the resignation of the then-Secret Service director and a complete overhaul of the agency’s security protocols.
The Secret Service has yet to disclose any additional details about the breach involving Obama. However, the agency insists it will continue evaluating and improving its security measures to prevent further incidents.