After numerous sex scandals in which the people who are currently employed to protect the President of the United States have been involved, another allegation was issued. On Wednesday, Xavier Morales, a senior supervisor working for the Secret Service, might be given the sack soon, after being suspended last week for accusations of sexual assault. The recently promoted employee had to give up his gun and badge, at least temporarily, before investigations are made.
On the 31st of March, after celebrating his promotion to supervisor of the Louisville office, Morales forcibly kissed and held his female subordinate’s hands when she wouldn’t comply. There were two witnesses at the scene who eventually obliged Morales to come around. The woman revealed to investigators that he had openly told her at the party that he was in love with her and suggested they should have sex.
Xavier Morales, who was supposed to start working as a supervisor this Monday, is 48 years old and currently married to a special agent.
The case is now under scrutiny by the Department of Homeland Security, given the fact that Morales is a senior supervisor and an official with a GS-15 rank. The investigators have interviewed the manager of the restaurant where the party was held, as well as the manager of Capitol City Brewing Company who was working that night. Both refused to make any comments regarding the subject matter to the press. Joseph P. Clancy, the Director of the United States Secret Service, stated that the accusations are extremely serious because such conduct cannot be tolerated and is severely punished. Even if it is not common for secret service officers to be placed on leave, this measure was immediately taken in Morales’ case.
The Secret Service Department is not at its first situation of misconduct. Earlier last month, i.e. on March 4, two officers drove their car into an on-going bomb investigation at the White House. They were also reported to be returning from a party with co-workers. Other scandals from previous years shed a bad light on the department. Such was the case of the two agents who faced accusations of engaging in sexual relations with prostitutes in 2012.
The incident urges the chief of the department to prompt its officials to act with more integrity and according to their status as highly ranked employees. This should be done not only to avoid bad press, but to maintain a professional level of confidence among those who are under their protection.
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