This diary is about problems within the management culture at the US Secret Service (USSS). There are many, many excellent, trustworthy and non-racist Agents at the USSS, who take their work very seriously and do their jobs thoroughly. This post is not about them. This post is about the racist element that exists at the USSS, the class action lawsuit that has languished for over 7 years, and why we should demand that the suit should be addressed much sooner rather than later.
The NYT ran an article this week about racist emails going around at the Secret Service.
Secret Service supervisors shared crude sexual jokes and engaged in racially derogatory banter about blacks, and passed around an anecdote about a possible assassination of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, according to internal e-mail disclosed in a federal court filing on Friday by lawyers for black Secret Service agents...The messages were written mainly from 2003 through 2005, and were sent to and from e-mail accounts of at least 20 Secret Service supervisors.
The messages offer a glimpse into the darker recesses of an agency known for protecting presidents and other dignitaries but whose culture is regarded as one of the most insular in federal law enforcement.
As a former EEO Investigator, this kind of behavior really concerns me, because it’s usually a hallmark of something much worse going on within the culture of the organization. I decided to do a little digging, and I was not happy with what I’ve found.
April 29, 2008- Noose reported at Secret Service Facility
The noose was found by an African-American officer in the uniform division of the service during the week of April 14, according to those familiar with the alleged incident. That division protects the White House and surrounding grounds.
Moore and nine other plaintiffs contend that the Secret Service created a racially hostile atmosphere that tolerates discrimination and routinely discriminates against black agents seeking promotion in favor of lower-scoring white agents.
It seems the USSS has caught BushCo's evidence destroying bug:
February 18, 2008- Secret Service Admits Destroying Trial Evidence
Hunnicutt testified that she destroyed surveys she had collected from about 50 high-ranking officials; a statistical report concerning promotions; and fax sheets and documents that showed who was contacted during the service's search for documents in the case. Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Johnson, she said she destroyed the documents because she wanted the most accurate ones to be sent to court...The agency's own counsel had ordered employees to retain all documents relevant to the case.
Glad to see DOJ hasn't managed to muzzle this judge- she's certainly late to the party in calling USSS on the carpet for their non-compliance, but at least she's saying something:
December 20, 2007- Federal Judge Rebukes Secret Service in Discrimination Suit
A federal judge rebuked the U.S. Secret Service tonight for presenting what she called un-credible testimony and failing to produce documents and e-mails sought in a long-running lawsuit that alleges systemic discrimination against African American agents.
"The time for compliance has long since passed," said U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson, noting that the service was originally ordered to release the materials back in 2004.
But Hogan argued that justice has been denied to the African American Secret Service agents who allege that they were forced to endure work environments where the word "nigger" was repeatedly used. An environment where white agents routinely leapfrog over black agents despite higher scores on promotional exams. An environment where black agents are sent undercover because it is assumed they talk the "street" language. In sum, an environment where a white "good ol’ boy network" prevails, Hogan said.
For those of you interested in the statistics, The USSS employs about 3200 employees, about 10% of whom are black. Only 4% ever make it to the management ranks, and very few of those are black women.
Looks like USSS management isn't shy about airing their displeasure at the lawsuit:
June 2, 2000- Black Secret Service Agents say Agency Tried to Intimidate Them
The lawyers said the retaliation had taken several forms, including forced transfers to jobs with less responsibility and warnings by senior official to some of the black agents that their careers could be in jeopardy as a result of the class-action lawsuit.
Finally, this was the case that was originally brought, clear back in 2000, that is still without a ruling today:
May 3, 2000 Secret Service Sued for Alleged Racial Discrimination
In a draft copy of the suit obtained by CNN, the agents said from at least 1974 to the present, the Secret Service maintained a "racially hostile work environment" and discriminated against its African American agents in hiring, promotions and assignments.
Black agents are given less prestigious assignments, transferred to less desirable locations and face retaliation when they complain about racial slurs uttered by white agents, the suit alleges.
This case is still pending against the US Secret Service. The management at the USSS has clearly done everything they can legally and illegally to prevent the case from coming to trial. It is easy to see that the racial hostilities have only gotten worse at USSS since the filing of the lawsuit, as evidenced by the retaliation, racial jokes and slurs, noose-hanging and evidence destruction demonstrated above.
Every supporter of Obama should be demanding that this case be dealt with immediately, and that the Secret Service be seriously overhauled from the top down to eradicate this culture of discrimination. The accusations from earlier in the primary season that the USSS allowed people entry into Obama town hall events without proper screening was concerning to many people. We must do everything we can to ensure the safety of Obama and his family by the real professionals at the USSS, and not these racist hacks the USSS seems to be protecting. We must demand that the USSS stop stonewalling this case and start cooperating immediately.