The U.S. Secret Service has issued an apology following an incident where agents were caught on camera breaking into a salon in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to use the bathroom without permission. The incident occurred on July 27, 2024, as the agency secured the area for Vice President Kamala Harris’s first in-person fundraiser since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Alicia Powers, owner of the Four One Three Salon, reported that Secret Service agents taped over her security cameras and gained access to her building by picking the lock. Security footage shows agents entering the salon, along with individuals in emergency medical services and state police uniforms, who allegedly used the bathroom and left the premises unlocked.
Powers expressed frustration over the lack of communication and respect for her business, stating, “They didn’t even have the audacity to ask for permission. They just helped themselves.”
The Secret Service acknowledged the incident and apologized to Powers, with a spokesperson stating that their employees “would not enter” a business without the owner’s permission. However, the agency did not deny that an agent taped over the security camera lens.
Despite receiving an apology from the Secret Service’s Boston office, Powers remains upset about the incident, emphasizing that she would have gladly cooperated had she been asked. The incident has raised concerns about the respect for private property during security operations.
