Publisher's Synopsis
On September 19, Omar Gonzalez jumped the North Fence, ran across the White House lawn, up the steps of the North Portico and into the front door of the White House. He was armed with a 3-inch serrated knife. He entered through an unlocked door, passed the staircase to the presidential residence and into the East Room of the White House. The White House is supposed to be one of America's most secure facilities. So how did this happen? How could Mr. Gonzalez scale the fence? That happens often. But how is it that, as would ordinarily happen, agents didn't immediately apprehend him? How was he able to sprint 70 yards, almost the entire length of a football field, without being intercepted by guards inside the fence? Why didn't security dogs stop him in his tracks? With $1.5 billion spent by the Secret Service, nearly a billion of that spent on protection of the First Family, the Second Family, former Presidents and presidential candidates, the United States Secret Service has always been considered to be the elite law enforcement Agency. In light of the recent break-in and other incidents from the past, the Secret Service must show us how there is a clear path back to public trust.
