On Saturday morning, a woman was apprehended by the U.S. Secret Service for attempting to climb a temporary security fence erected around the White House in preparation for the upcoming inauguration. The Secret Service confirmed the arrest in a statement, noting the woman was quickly detained and subsequently transferred to the DC Metro Police Department’s 2nd District for processing. She faces charges of unlawful entry.
The incident occurred while President Biden was present at the White House, but officials stated the woman did not successfully breach the fence and posed no threat to the president or other protected individuals. This incident evokes memories of past security breaches at the White House. In March 2017, a man scaled a fence and remained undetected on the grounds for 17 minutes before being apprehended. He falsely claimed to have an appointment with then-President Trump.
A more serious breach occurred in September 2014, when Omar J. Gonzalez, armed with a knife, jumped the fence and entered the East Room while former President Obama was in office before being apprehended. This latest incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by the White House and the vigilance required to maintain its protection.
