US Secret Service Assistant Director Tony Ornato leaves agency
Source: CNN Politics
(CNN) US Secret Service Assistant Director Tony Ornato left the Secret Service on Monday, a significant departure two months after explosive testimony by a former White House aide, who alleged Ornato had told her then-President Donald Trump was irate upon learning his security detail wouldn't take him to the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Ornato on Monday confirmed his departure, which CNN had previously reported citing two sources familiar. He said he left the agency to pursue a career in the private sector.
"I did retire today to pursue a career in the private sector. I retired from the U.S. Secret Service after more than 25 years of faithful service to my country, including serving the past five presidents. I long-planned to retire and have been planning this transition for more than a year," Ornato said in a statement to CNN. Ornato told CNN he has not taken a role with the former President or any of his companies. He declined to name his new employer. The House select committee investigating the insurrection has made clear it believes Ornato was a central figure who could provide valuable information about Trump's movements and intentions leading up to and on January 6.
Not only did Ornato once run Trump's detail, but he also made the unprecedented move of joining White House staff as the deputy chief of staff in December 2019 on a temporary assignment and eventually returned to the Secret Service to run its training program. According to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat who serves on the panel, committee members have stressed their desire to speak with Ornato and he has retained private counsel. It's not clear whether Ornato will end up testifying related to the claims from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
To this point, Ornato has met with the panel on two occasions -- in January and March -- as part of its investigation, according to a source familiar with his testimony. Among the topics Ornato discussed with the committee, the source said, were Trump's knowledge of then-Vice President Mike Pence's whereabouts during the attack on the US Capitol and whether Trump could have done more to encourage the rioters to calm down and leave the building. Ornato's answers to those questions and more have not been revealed by the committee, and members of the panel have expressed frustration with aspects of his testimony, with some suggesting he lacks credibility.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/29/politics/tony-ornato-leaving-us-secret-service/index.html
Article now being updated. Additional update added.
Last update -
The House select committee investigating the insurrection made clear it believes Ornato was a central figure who could provide valuable information about Trump's movements and intentions leading up to and on January 6. Not only did Ornato once run Trump's detail, but he also made the unprecedented move of joining White House staff as the deputy chief of staff in December 2019 on a temporary assignment and eventually returned to the Secret Service to run its training program.
According to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat who serves on the panel, committee members have stressed their desire to speak with Ornato and he has retained private counsel. It's not clear whether Ornato will end up testifying related to the claims from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Sources told CNN that Ornato had been eligible for retirement since earlier this summer, and he had been discussing leaving the Secret Service since before Hutchinson's testimony.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
Original article -
This story is breaking and will be updated.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)elleng
(130,956 posts)who alleged Ornato had told her then-President Donald Trump was irate upon learning his security detail wouldn't take him to the Capitol on January 6, 2021.'
ultralite001
(894 posts)I wonder what he took with him...
That is all...
StrkSrviver
(85 posts)Can you just imagine the security process for leaving government service right now. Especially after accusations of deleting shit ,they probably did everything short of a strip search.
onetexan
(13,041 posts)The FBI would be good to keep check on that one.
FalloutShelter
(11,868 posts)Jarqui
(10,126 posts)from what I've seen
yankee87
(2,173 posts)What the heck is going on with the Secret Service? Is it possible they were going to assassinate Pence? Maybe those missing texts show this. I feel like I'm living the show 24.
Does anyone else feel this is surreal?
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)and maybe dirty?
Evolve Dammit
(16,736 posts)Then again, maybe not. If we lose the House all the investigations go away. Not feeling confident, but still hopeful.
live love laugh
(13,114 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,061 posts)She served on his detail when he was VP.
Cha
(297,275 posts)off lucky to me. After what has been reported how he chose DT over Country.
Fucking Fascist.
Mr.Bill
(24,300 posts)Probably the first of many with Biden's new Director.
MyOwnPeace
(16,927 posts)bluestarone
(16,959 posts)CULT! (probably) Hope there is a shakeup coming! I'm sure there will be MORE!
G2theD
(593 posts)Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)
G2theD This message was self-deleted by its author.
TrollBuster9090
(5,954 posts)With the Dominion voting machine lawsuit, Fux Noise can only afford to hire ONE crackpot, ex-Secret Service asshole at a time. Bonkers Bongino may end up having to beg for his job back at the NRA network. (He famously stomped off the set when they told him he had to be vaccinated to work there.)
On the other hand, maybe Ornato thinks he can make more money with a musical gig? He, Kellyanne Conway, and Kimberly Guilfoyle could go on the road with a new singing act, called Tony Ornato and Dumb.
"Knock three times on the ceiling if you want Pence, twice on the pipe if the coup is a go!"
dlk
(11,566 posts)n/t
not fooled
(5,801 posts)to guard the pool shed.
Tony, there's a job opening!
robbob
(3,531 posts)Nothing left to guard
dchill
(38,502 posts)moniss
(4,249 posts)the bag man for a new secretly funded "PAC" called "Documents 'R Us".
tishaLA
(14,176 posts)Because I suspect he's gong to have some astronomical legal bills in his future.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,010 posts)machoneman
(4,007 posts)Just speculation but by quitting, he may have made a deal to stay out of prison. We'll see.........
Lulu KC
(2,566 posts)thucythucy
(8,067 posts)empedocles
(15,751 posts)Kid Berwyn
(14,907 posts)Thatd make it easy to find the Reich recruits, ja.
Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)gone from a high level position in federal law enforcement.
Drip drip drip...
intrepidity
(7,302 posts)It's a travesty that he has been training new SS agents during Biden's term.