(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.
Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker, catch the latest updates from the GOP convention on CNN's 2012 Conventions Live Blog, and check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator to game out your own strategy for November.
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."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Leaving unsecured firearms, short changing hookers.... Go team minimum standards required!!!
Woah...tsk tsk tsk. Ask Vincent Vega what can happen when you leave your fire arm "laying" around while you use the facilities. Some guy named Butch Coolridge is liable to secure it and riddle you full of bullets.
This is my rifle, this is my gun....
He was probably tired after a night partying with the boys, and hanging with a dozen hookers. He was coked up and sleepy, and he lost his concentration. Nothing major. He's just protecting a candiate for the most powerful office in the world. Nothing important or anything that would require concentration...
Allow me to say, it is very lucky that Mitt the Twitt didn't find it... he would have thought it was a hair dryer...
And there, ladies and gentlemen, is possibly... oh god.... possibly, the next president and leader of the free world!
The only man who can insult everybody in every country he goes to for "PHOTO OPS"... the one occasion where you are required NOT to speak....
On the bright side, if he does become president.... although the free world will be doomed.... Saturday Night Live might become funny again.
This is why only cops should have guns.
It looks like the Secret Service guy doesnt take Mitt Romney seriously as President.
I think we have an end of secret service career event here ..
Security is the name. Incompetence is their game.
Okay, seriously now: Did they put Chief Wiggum on the Secret Service protective detail? how does one make a mistake like that, when you're supposed to be guarding someone who could, potentially, be the next president of the United States?
I have t agree with those who say the agent doesn't belong on protective detail. There's really no room for this at the Secret Service protection detail. It's arguable that in this context, it was harmless, because everyone was searched before getting on the plane, But hey, guess what? If you leave your gun lying around, someone could easily pick it up, and it won't matter if you search them before they got on the plane. Also, what if he makes the same mistake in a less secure context?
The guy needs to go.
I guess he dropped more of a load than intended.
Pfff Considering whose security we are talking about, I say GOOD JOB Agent. Nicely played. Now do it on a plane with terrorists or something and then get your whole detail to safety, sit back and.... Honestly, it's bound to happen and nobody got hurt. You're gonna wish things went a little differently if this guy gets in office. Some advice to the Secret Sservice people that get that uncomfortable bulge brushingg against their bodies from time to time. Heh! Try a shoulder harness or carry something so big it requires a sling, that way you'll feel like something is wrong right away if you ever forget it somewhere and it's a great deterrent...for pesky candidates and presidents who are thinking of not taking your advice and putting themselves in jeopardy. coughcoupcoughjustkidding.
Somebody's going to get fired.
Oh my god, how terrifying!
looks like the service gun wasn't so secret..
Call it the not-so-secret service gun
He thought he had his gun in his hand.
The last thing anyone needs is an absent minded secret service agent. I remember Gen Collin Powell at one time losing his side arm in a Vietnam. It's really bad since a aircraft lavatory is only the size of a closet.
I thought this level of stupidity happens only in the movies... Pulp Fiction, anyone?
Requirements for employment at Secret Service Agent:
1) U.S. citizenship
2) At least 18 years of age
3) Body temperature of 98.6° F
Reporters are scum. This could of been dealt with in a private manner but the smell of blood was to much for the media.
Sounds like an honest mistake to me. I'd imagine it's quite common to set a firearm on a cabinet while using the facility. :-\
Sounds like the agent should be fired.
Not-so-secret Secret Service agent,
Are these the same guys hitting the whore houses in Columbia?
We need better, common sense, gun control laws to keep this sort of thing from happening.
"Woody
Since to be in law enforcement you don't need a college education this is not surprising ".
Another name to file under my 1D10T folder.