Secret Service manager suspended after sex assault allegation

On Wednesday, the Secret Service disclosed that Xavier Morales, a recently promoted senior supervisor in the security clearance division, was placed on leave last week and at least temporarily stripped of his security clearance and gun after a female subordinate accused him of sexually assaulting her at the office after a work party. The March 31 party, at a Washington, D.C., brewery, had been to celebrate Morales' promotion to head of the Louisville office. He was supposed to start this week.

The D.C. police sex crimes unit and Homeland Security Department inspector general's office are investigating the allegations that Morales had grabbed and tried to kiss the coworker, after telling her at the party he wanted to have sex with her, The Washington Post reports. Morales, 48, is married to a special agent who was recently named a deputy assistant director at the Secret Service headquarters.

"The Secret Service is an agency that demands that our employees conduct themselves with the highest level of integrity," agency Director Joseph Clancy told The Post. "These allegations as reported are very disturbing."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up