The chief federal watchdog for the Secret Service blocked investigations proposed by career staff last year to scrutinize the agency’s handling of the George Floydprotests in Lafayette Square and the spread of the coronavirus in its ranks, according to documents and people with knowledge of his decisions.
Both matters involved decisions by then-President Donald Trump that may have affected actions by the agency.
Joseph Cuffari, the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general, rejected his staff’s recommendation to investigate what role the Secret Service played in the forcible clearing of protesters from Lafayette Square on June 1, according to internal documents and two people familiar with his decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the discussions. Continue reading.