TODAY’S PAPER | January 16, 2026 | EPAPER

Secret Service agent suspended after revealing JD Vance's security details during fake date

The woman he was speaking to and thought he was on a date with was later identified as an undercover journalist


Pop Culture & Art January 16, 2026 2 min read
Photo: Reuters

A US Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President JD Vance has been suspended after an undercover video appeared to show him discussing sensitive security details in a public restaurant while on what he believed was a date.

The footage, released by O’Keefe Media Group, shows the agent speaking in a busy dining setting and allegedly outlining protective arrangements around the vice president. He is also heard discussing future travel plans and referencing the location of the presidential convoy. The woman he was speaking to was later identified as an undercover journalist, prompting immediate concern within the agency.

In the video, a female voice off camera asks to see the agent’s badge again while complimenting him, before pressing for further information about how agents are positioned around Vance during official engagements. The agent appears to respond in detail, raising questions about the ease with which sensitive information can be obtained through social engineering in informal environments.

The footage also captures the agent expressing personal views on immigration enforcement, criticising certain tactics used during ICE operations and stating his opposition to officers covering their faces. James O’Keefe, who shared the video, described the agent as a holdover from the Biden administration and claimed he had voted for the former president. The Secret Service has declined to comment on these remarks, focusing instead on the alleged disclosure of operational information.

The agency confirmed the agent has been placed on administrative leave, with his security clearance suspended and access to facilities and systems revoked.

In a statement to Fox News, Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said the service has “no tolerance for any behaviour that could potentially compromise the safety, privacy or trust of our protectees”.

Quinn added that the incident is under investigation and described the alleged conduct as a serious breach of standards. The Secret Service has ordered all personnel to retake mandatory anti-espionage training and issued an apology to the Vance family for what it called a violation of trust.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charges have been announced.

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