The director of the U.S. Secret Service is leaving his position, NBC News confirmed on Monday.
USSS Director Randolph Alles, a retired Marine Corps major general who was appointed two years ago, is on his way out the door just the day after the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, resigned under pressure on Sunday night. Alles reported to her.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that President Donald Trump “has selected James M. Murray, a career member of the USSS, to take over as director beginning in May.”
More ousters of agency heads within DHS are possible and a number of key positions remains vacant.
An administration official said the decision to seek the resignation of Alles was made 10 to 14 days ago — before a March 28 incident in which a Chinese woman was arrested at Mar-a-Lago without an invitation, touching off security concerns. The woman, Yujing Zhang, was carrying a thumb drive containing malicious software.
“This was not based on any single event,” the official said, adding that Alles was told Trump was preparing to make changes in leadership throughout DHS, of which the Secret Service is one component.
In a statement to the agency’s workforce on Monday, Alles denied being fired and said he was informed “weeks ago” that there would be across-the-board changes in leadership at DHS.
“No doubt you have seen media reports regarding my ‘firing.’ I assure you that this is not the case, and in fact was told weeks ago by the Administration that transitions in leadership should be expected across the Department of Homeland Security,” Alles said in a statement. “The President has directed an orderly transition in leadership for this agency and I intend to abide by that direction. It is my sincere regret that I was not able to address the workforce prior to this announcement.”
He added, “It has been my great honor to serve as Director of the U.S. Secret Service. I…
