(CNN) – A United States Secret Service agent traveling with Mitt Romney accidently left a firearm in the lavatory of his charter airplane Wednesday during a trip to Indianapolis.
The firearm was discovered by a reporter for CBS News/National Journal, who told a flight attendant about it, according to a story posted by CBS News. Romney was traveling from Tampa, Florida to Indianapolis, Indiana to deliver a speech.
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Romney, who will formally accept the Republican presidential nomination Thursday, was seated in the front of the airplane that consisted of campaign aides, reporters and U.S. Secret Service agents.
"We are aware of the incident," Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said in a statement. "We take the care and custody of our equipment, especially firearms, very seriously. This matter will be dealt with internally and in an appropriate matter."
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Huge mistake by the agent and the agent should be terminated.
Being in an occupation which requires me to carry concealed firearms, I understand the necessity of placing said firearm in a more convenient location than the holster on my hip. I, however, have never had the misfortune of leaving my firearm behind after concluding my business. This is not a trivial oversight on this agent's part, and he could very well lose his job. I empathize with him and hope the Secret Service can somehow manage to stay out of the media spotlight for at least the immediate future.
How stupid can the Secret Service be, lucky for them their heads are attached to their bodies or they'd leave it behind. Way to go, don't they report up the chain to the DOJ.
Some people just don't ge thow serious the job is or is the job serious at all? This SS agent should be demoted to the kitchen serving line at SS headquarters.
It isn't a plane ... it is an aircraft.
If only someone with a conceal & carry permit were there, this tragedy would not have occurred.
I think of it this way: Romney didn't need this agent to fire back at a suspect and the weapon didn't fire hurting anyone or damaging anything. It is little comfort, but it is better than nothing.
How does the Secret Service say "OOPS!" into those sleve mics they use?
We shouldn't have to pick up the bill on this "candidate's" security in the first place.
how do you even do that??
Too many 'incidents' involving SS in the past year or so and that's concerning. Someone's head should roll over this latest gaff.
@Al Secret Service falls under the Department of Homeland Security
I would imagine everyone that was allowed on the plane was pretty well researched before they were allowed on. Non-issue IMO. If it was a commerical flight on the otherhand, yeah big problems.
And the point of this article is...? Look he made a mistake. I know the media loves to tie this back somehow to that whole Columbia prostitution thing, but come on, let's dispense with the trivial.
What will the Secret Service officer be there for without his fire arm? He was very careless. Could he have had too much to eat and drink with the crowd!
@Al – No. the secret service is part of the Department of the Treasury. They have nothing to do with the DOJ
Who cares! Did the agent find the weapon or promptly get it back?? regardless of answer – SO WHAT! Is one "weapon" equivalent to losing the presidential launch codes for all our remaining nuclear weapons in the US stockpile? – - Not hardly! Dumb, simple, wrong, chastisable, but forgivable mistake – yes!
So maybe we should deny all weapons to agents protecting our presidential or vice-presidential candidates – GET REAL!
I sure hope the Secret Service Agents guarding the President and First Family are more conciencious. Not a real confidence builder.
If it had happened on Air Force One, FauxNews & the GOP would be blaming President Obama.
Things happen. I'm sure he would have noticed before the plane landed.
He probably was planning on shooting himself after having to listen to Romney rehearse his acceptance speech umpteen times but changed his mind and forgot to re-holster his weapon.
This is what you get with overpaid government employees. Send him to the unemployment line right after you send Obama to the unemployment line.
We want to hold them to higher standards than local law enforcement due to their education and training, but this, along with other incidents, proves their ignorance.
It is a jet not an airplane
Interesting, but hardly newsworthy.