Secret Service Agent Under Investigation for Alleged Wife-Smuggling Scandal

The Secret Service is investigating an agent who allegedly tried to sneak his wife, a member of the U.S. Air Force, onto a plane for President Donald Trump's recent trip to Scotland. A source told that the woman attended an official briefing and traveled with agency personnel to the "distinguished visitor lounge" at Joint Base Andrews, where she was discovered and asked to leave.

The agent is based in Dallas and received bad advice from a lower-level supervisor who said it was acceptable for his wife to attend if the Air Force approved. The source said the Air Force indicated it was fine as long as the Secret Service did as well. However, the flight coordinator denied her boarding, and she never got on the plane.

The president was asked about the matter upon his return to the United States on Tuesday and expressed confidence that agency Director Sean Curran would "take care of it."

"Are you going to leave the wife in the car?" President Trump said. "Wouldn't you think that might be a little dangerous? I don't know if that has proper compression. I don't know, that's a strange one. I just heard that two minutes ago. I think Sean's taking care of it."

The Secret Service released a statement regarding the incident:

"The U.S. Secret Service is conducting a personnel investigation after an employee attempted to invite his spouse—a member of the United States Air Force—aboard a mission support flight," the agency said. "The aircraft, operated by the U.S. Air Force, was being used by the Secret Service to transport personnel and equipment. Prior to the overseas departure, the employee was advised by supervisors that such action was prohibited, and the spouse was subsequently prevented from taking the flight. No Secret Service protectees were aboard, and there was no impact on our overseas protective operations."