00:00services, threats against protected officials remain elevated, leading to enhanced security
00:04measures around the event. So for more on tonight's event and the increased security
00:09surrounding it, we are joined now by two former Secret Service agents, National Security Analysts
00:13Barry Donito and Charles Marino. Great to have you both with us. Charles, I'll start with you.
00:18So as you know, the original dinner was at the Hilton in Washington, but it's been moved to the
00:23Waldorf Astoria, which used to be the Trump Hotel. Our president is very familiar with this hotel,
00:29but what are some of the biggest security challenges the Secret Service faces with
00:33tonight's rescheduled dinner? Well, it's a dynamic threat environment. We've never
00:37had a threat level that's been so high in the history of this country. We're facing more threats
00:43from more places than any time in our history. And this is a different location. So each security
00:49plan that's created by the Secret Service is unique to the environment that it's being established in.
00:55So we'll still see that layered approach to security, but we will see different assets
01:01being brought to the table to mitigate these risks that they're facing.
01:07Yeah. So, Barry, is there an advantage? Because I remember, obviously, during the first term,
01:10the first administration, I mean, the president went to within his hotel all the time for dinner,
01:15for events, for fundraisers. Secret Service knows it very well. Does that put the service at an
01:21advantage this time around? Great to be with you and great to be with Charles. And absolutely,
01:27they're in a home field advantage in the city. They know where to go. They know all the routes.
01:32They know the route to the hospital, the White House. So, yes, of course, that helps. And they are
01:38going to reevaluate everything from top to bottom. We've heard the director say this just at his press
01:45conference. It was very informative that they are going to do any additions and corrections add to
01:51this. And I would expect to see changes as far as more bike racks, more physical barriers. I would
01:57totally expect to see more tactical team presence as well as even military police.
02:03And Charles, we know the White House Correspondents Association will honor Secret Service Officer
02:08Victor Gonzalez, who helped stop the alleged gunman during the event. Gonzalez will receive the
02:13organization's President's Award for Exceptional Service, recognizing his actions during a moment
02:18of crisis. How do Secret Service officers train to respond, really, when every second matters?
02:26Yeah, you know, other than the difference in the investigative mission between the agents and the
02:32officers, the protection mission is quite similar. They go through almost the exact same extensive
02:40training. The Secret Service police is an established law enforcement agency at the federal level within
02:48D.C. They've got authorities around the country, no different than the agents. So that synergy and
02:55training, the intensiveness, the standards are the same across the entirety of the
03:02of the Secret Service. What's important here at the Hilton is that the layered security plan
03:10worked. Yes, people may not have liked how it looked and felt and unfolded, but these types of
03:17situations very rarely unfold in a nice-looking way. And so the security plan worked. The foundation
03:26that the Secret Service uses to protect these venues is solid, and we will see that continue.
03:32So, Barry, really switch gears here just a little bit. A member of the Vice President,
03:37J.D. Vance's Secret Service detail reportedly, under investigation for allegations, the agent may
03:42have leaked sensitive operational information. Secret Service says the matter involves a potential
03:47compromise of security information with an internal review underway, possible criminal
03:52investigation being considered. This seems to me very serious and something that does not happen
03:58hardly, if ever. Right. I can only hope it was done inadvertently. If it was done on purpose,
04:05this person's going to be facing criminal charges and obviously jail time. So I guess we will have to get
04:10to the bottom of that. But when you work for the Secret Service, there are things that you do not
04:15even
04:15tell your family. So you keep things to yourself. You keep your job where it belongs with the job. And
04:22those
04:23people that work in the Secret Service, that is a way of life that is not just a job. And
04:27they devote
04:28their entire lifestyle to protecting their protectees. Unbelievable. We'll see where it plays out. All right,
04:34Barry, Charles, thanks for joining us this morning. Have a great weekend. Good to be with you all.
