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Major Garrett: Did Secret Service 'Cover Up' White House Security Breach?

September 30, 2014

CBS White House correspondent Major Garrett suggested Tuesday that the Obama administration and Secret Service covered up the Sept. 19 security breach at the White House.

Garrett said criminal charges should have been filed against Omar Gonzalez, the armed combat veteran who stormed inside the White House and led Secret Service agents on a chase throughout the first floor of the residence before being apprehended in the East Room.

Garrett asked why these charges were never filed, suggesting the Secret Service and administration officials wanted to "cover up exactly what happened inside the mansion."

"Inevitably, if those charges were filed, everyone would have asked what happened inside the executive mansion," Garrett said. "One explanation for that would be to cover up exactly what happened inside the mansion."

Earnest said the district attorney is responsible for filing criminal charges against Gonzalez. "I have confidence in the ability of those career prosecutors to bring those individuals to justice," Earnest said.

When asked if President Obama and the first family feel worried about their safety inside the White House, Earnest said the president "maintains full confidence in the men and women of the secret service to do important work which includes, as their top priority, protecting the first family in the White House."