Secret Service Agent Publicly Celebrates Assassination, Biden Administration Silent
When the Tennessee Republican senator, Marsha Blackburn, addressed the Republican National Convention on August 26, 2020, she likely couldn’t imagine that she would have to pen a letter to Secret Service Director Sean Curran, expressing her revulsion about any of his agents backing a political assassination. Yet, this became a reality when Blackburn had to condemn one of the special agents, Anthony Pough, after he justified the killing of Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, on social media.
The appalling incident occurred this year, with the assassin still on the loose. Kirk, who, marking both his triumphs and tragedy at the age of 31, was not only highly regarded within the Trump fraternity but also instrumental in securing the young voter base during last year’s election. Illustrating the depths of diatribes we’re dealing with, Pough spouted his hatred for Kirk in a Facebook post, blithely suggesting that any mourners of Kirk’s death should erase him, adopting a sickly sanctimonious tone about ‘karma’.
As if his mercilessness towards Kirk wasn’t enough, Pough continued to express his armchair moral philosophy on Facebook, alluding to divine judgement and the immutable sense of ‘karma’. Ironically, Pough himself had been critical of Trump when the former president voiced his opposition to certain diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government. Pough’s weak argument was that these programs deterred nepotism, but we must question the validity of this standpoint.
Furthermore, Pough was up in arms when Trump relieved Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s chairman under the Biden administration, of his duties. As is the norm, incoming presidents select their advisors. However, Pough deemed this a racial issue, insinuating in a Facebook post, peppered with angry emojis, that Brown was disposed off simply because he was Black. His post demonstrated a flawed understanding of meritocracy and an erroneous allegation of racism.
In response to these events, Blackburn penned a strongly-worded letter to Curran, chastising his agency’s failures and urgently pressing for Pough’s termination. Blackburn’s attention was drawn by the unethical behavior presented by Pough, as she labeled it a celebration and justification of a political assassination. Quite rightly, she specifically highlighted the need for an immediate response from the Secret Service dealing with this reprehensible conduct.
Meanwhile, Curran had already suspended Pough, according to an inside source from the Secret Service. Additionally, plans were underway for Pough’s dismissal, though the timeline remains undisclosed. Needless to say, Kirk’s brutal assassination caused an uproar of condemnation across political lines. It elevated pre-existing apprehensions within conservatives and the Trump administration once more, given that Kirk was not only an influential political figure but also a loved family man.
The campaign trail chronicled some poignant moments. JD Vance, the vice president, stood as a pallbearer, carrying Kirk’s casket. For a man famed for his debates, mostly with college students, and his staunch desire for political rigor, Kirk was transported from Utah to Phoenix, Arizona, in Vice President Vance’s official plane, the Air Force 2.
Whilst the agony of Kirk’s loss convulsed the political landscape, there was the shocking realization that many detractors celebrated his death with contemptuous joy on social media, deviating starkly from the somber reactions they ought to have held. Subsequently, when it was learned that personnel from the military and Department of War publicly scorned Kirk after his death, Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War and one of Kirk’s friends, declared their actions fully unacceptable.
Higgins, a Republican Representative from Louisiana, pledged to use his authority to compel social media organizations to enforce their regulations against promoting or endorsing violence. He committed to pressuring these platforms to permanently ban all individuals who downplayed Kirk’s assassination. These reactions underscored an already heated debate about the freedom and responsibilities of expression online.
In a similar vein, prominent conservatives like investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger fervently refuted the illogical idea put forth by some leftists that the circumstances leading to Kirk’s death were somehow his doing. Shellenberger’s riposte, advising leftists not to propound unfounded theories, carried undeniable weight. A muddying of waters, on this scale, by the leftists, he suggested, was simply unacceptable.
Preceding Blackburn’s disclosure of her letter to Curran, the Secret Service had expressed its decision not to accept any agent celebrating an assassination, particularly those assigned to protect politicians. The agency emphasized its commitment to maintaining a strict code of conduct and reassured that it was actively investigating Pough’s notorious social media post.
The shocking revelation of Pough’s celebration of Kirk’s murder sent ripples of concern through the federal law enforcement. This showed a worrisomely immoral side to an officer, trusted to guard political entities and the continuity of the U.S. government. The tension further mounted when questioned if having someone of Pough’s temperament around politicians, especially after two unsuccessful attempts on President Trump’s life, could be considered safe.
Pough, relatively green in the field, may not frequently be on the duty roster protecting Trump but does serve in the Presidential Protective Division. This means that he could be strategically shifted to protect the president when required. The revelation immediately drew criticism from Blackburn, who had previously voiced her concern over the inadequacies of the Secret Service Director, Kimberly Cheatle, following the attempted assassination of Trump in Pennsylvania last year.
Blackburn emphasized that the Secret Service was filled with political actors, leaving it in dire need of a reform. She was amongst the numerous Senate Republicans who reproached Cheatle at the Republican National Convention following the director’s refusal to shed light on the agency’s shortcomings. The Senator, who is running for governor, argued that the failure of the Secret Service would forever tarnish the agency’s reputation.
In her letter to Curran, Blackburn urged that the Secret Service must purge bad actors like Pough who undermine its integrity. ‘Guaranteeing the safety of President Trump and all others who merit the Secret Service’s protection necessitates his immediate expulsion,’ she voiced vehemently. She pleaded with him to commit to demonstrating ‘important accountability’ at the Secret Service, reminding him of his earlier statement.
In the year 2016, just before the election, another Secret Service member, retired senior agent Kerry O’Grady, suggested she wouldn’t risk her life to protect Trump. Though many were aware of her sentiment, the Secret Service chose not to discipline her, causing anxiety among agents regarding the leaders’ failure to respond. O’Grady was kept on paid administrative leave to reach her retirement, then left with her full pension benefits in 2019, setting a troubling precedent.