The U.S. Secret Service covered up a car accident involving Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, initially claiming that the incident was due to “a mechanical failure” when it was actually caused by an agent’s driving.
A Secret Service agent brought the vice president’s motorcade to a standstill on Monday after the agent hit a curb while transporting Harris through D.C. The agency did not disclose critical details of the accident in a formal message notifying senior leadership of the reason behind the motorcade’s delay, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the Washington Post.
The vice president was moved to a different vehicle and taken to the White House, Guglielmi said. The Secret Service’s protective intelligence division initially claimed “a mechanical failure” forced agents to move Harris to another vehicle.
“During a protective movement Monday, a vehicle in a motorcade had a minor overcorrection and struck a curb,” Guglielmi said. “The protectee was transferred to a secondary vehicle, and the motorcade continued to its destination. There were no injuries to anyone.”
“Initial radio traffic indicated this was a mechanical failure, and that was communicated to agency leadership by personnel supporting the motorcade movement,” Guglielmi added. “After the protective movement was completed, leadership was verbally updated with additional pertinent facts that the vehicle struck a curb.”
Kirsten Allen, a spokeswoman for Harris, said the vice president was not injured in the accident.
“The Vice President sustained no injuries and appreciates the quick response by her USSS detail to get her to the White House safely,” Allen said in an emailed statement.
The incident adds to concerns that the Secret Service covers up its mistakes and hides official activity. Earlier this week, the New York Post revealed that the agency claims it cannot find records identifying any visitors to President Joe Biden’s Delaware homes, according to a Freedom of Information Act appeal. Biden has spent approximately one quarter of his presidency at his Delaware residences.
In a letter dated Sept. 27, Secret Service deputy director Faron Paramore said that “the agency conducted an additional search of relevant program offices for potentially responsive records.”
“This search also produced no responsive records,” Paramore claimed. “Accordingly, your appeal is denied.”
