Secret Service criticized for breaking into local salon before Harris event

The Secret Service is facing criticism following a controversial incident at a local salon prior to a significant campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris last month.

Business owner Alicia Powers expressed feelings of violation after witnessing a Secret Service agent covering the salon’s security camera with tape and allowing individuals to use the bathroom without her consent.

This incident unfolded on July 27, coinciding with Harris’s first major in-person fundraising event at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Reports indicate that the event raised over $1.4 million for Harris’s presidential campaign.

The performing arts venue is situated directly behind Powers’ Four One Three salon. Due to the heightened security measures surrounding the event, Powers chose to close her business that Saturday. However, upon returning, she found her salon unlocked.

Upon reviewing the security footage, Powers was alarmed to see multiple individuals entering and using the bathroom in her salon. A video captured a Secret Service agent climbing onto a chair to cover an external security camera while another camera inside recorded several individuals, including two in medical uniforms, entering the premises.

“They had several people coming in and out doing bomb sweeps,” said Powers. “I completely understand the necessity of their work, considering the situation.” She went on to explain that due to the chaotic environment, her team decided it was best to close for the day.

“There were several people in and out for about an hour and a half, using my bathroom, and the alarms were going off. They used my counter space without any permission,” she added.

Powers detailed further frustrations when she realized that after a couple of hours, the agents left without taking down the tape from her camera and left her building completely unlocked.

She criticized the agents for not asking for her permission to utilize her space. “Whoever it was, celebrity or not, I would have happily welcomed them, offered coffee, and brought in donuts to create a pleasant atmosphere,” Powers said. “Yet, they didn’t even think to ask for permission; they simply took what they wanted.”

Initially, the Secret Service claimed they would never have entered the property without prior consent. However, following the incident, Powers received an apology from a representative from the agency’s Boston field office.

“He stated that everything conducted was completely inappropriate. They weren’t authorized to tape my camera or enter the building without permission,” she reported.

Melissa McKenzie, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to working alongside the business community to fulfill their protective duties. “The Secret Service has since communicated with the affected business owner. We value these relationships immensely, and our personnel should never enter, or instruct others to enter, a business without the owner’s consent,” McKenzie stated.

This incident surfaces during a period of increased scrutiny for the Secret Service, particularly following an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The agency acknowledged serious shortcomings in their response to that event, resulting in the resignation of Director Kimberly Cheatle amidst the fallout.

In response to these recent challenges, the Secret Service has committed to implementing counter sniper coverage for all presidential campaign events, which includes candidates and their running mates.