Secret Service investigating removal of three from Bush visit

[Jon8503]

By P. SOLOMON BANDA
Associated Press Writer

DENVER (AP) -- The Secret Service says it is investigating the claims of three people who claim they were removed from President Bush's town hall meeting on Social Security last week after being singled out because of a bumper sticker on their car.

The three said they had obtained tickets through the office of Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., had passed through security and were preparing to take their seats when they were approached by what they thought was a Secret Service agent who asked them to leave.

One woman, Karen Bauer, 38, a marketing coordinator from Denver, said Monday the agent put his hand on her elbow and steered her away from her seat and toward an exit.

"The Secret Service had nothing to do with that," said Lon Garner, special agent in charge of the Secret Service office in Denver. "We are very sensitive to the First Amendment and general assembly rights as protected by the Constitution."

The three who were removed, along with their attorney, Dan Recht, met with Garner on Monday. Recht said he may file a lawsuit based on the group's alleged violation of their First Amendment rights.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CO_BUSH_COLORADO_COOL-?SITE=COCOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Kagemusha]

1. So they're investigating to ensure it was the local fall guys.

And just not the Secret Service.

Cute.

[fishwax]

3. Maybe not the local fall guys, but staffers impersonating SS officers

I can definitely see this administration doing that. Even though I don't doubt it happens, though, I can't really imagine it being made known.

[sui generis]

2. well, I guess everyone dressed in black with a transceiver earpiece

loaded for bear in the presence of the president is not secret service. Then who the hell are they?

Perhaps the secret service, if it wasn't them, might be sensitive to people running around dressed like secret service pretending to be secret service for REALLY OBVIOUS reasons.

[whistle]

4. Bush's HLS Gestapo agents, shadow government, secret police

...it all fits!

[peacetalksforall]

5. Bush is very fragile and delicate - he has to be handled with care and

caution.

[Dave Reynolds]

6. "Nope, uh uh, not us, no way..

we haven't done that since before the selection".