Three United States Secret Service employees, all in the communications office, were placed on administrative leave while the agency’s internal watchdog investigates potential misconduct.
Story Snapshot
- The Secret Service confirmed three non-law-enforcement employees are on leave.
- The Office of Professional Responsibility is leading the inquiry.
- One report identified communications chief Anthony Guglielmi among those sidelined.
- The agency described a standard internal process, not a final finding.
What The Agency Did And Why It Matters
The United States Secret Service said it placed three civilian employees on administrative leave pending an internal probe into potential misconduct. The agency routed the case to its Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles standards and discipline reviews.
That move signals a formal process with interviews, record checks, and documented findings. The step fits long-standing federal playbooks that separate alleged conduct from active duty to protect missions and preserve evidence during a review.
Outlets that cited the agency confirmed the leave action and the use of the professional-responsibility office. Reports also said the three work in communications, the nerve center that manages press, messages, and coordination across the service.
One report named Anthony Guglielmi, the agency’s communications chief, as among those on leave. The Secret Service did not release further details. That restraint is common while investigators gather facts and decide any discipline.
How Administrative Leave Works In Federal Service
Administrative leave removes an employee from duty without cutting pay while facts are checked. Federal rules treat it as a narrow, temporary status for investigative needs.
The Office of Personnel Management set clear lanes to prevent open-ended sidelining and to document each step of a review. Agencies use it to reduce operational risks, protect records and devices, and avoid conflicts while witnesses are interviewed and evidence is secured.
The Secret Service has used this tool in past cases. After the 2012 Cartagena incident, the agency put 11 employees on leave, pulled their clearances, and sent them home for interviews with the Office of Professional Responsibility.
A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report later described those steps in detail and why speed mattered for integrity and accountability. That playbook explains the current approach: move fast, separate people from duty, then let the facts drive outcomes.
Why A Communications Office Case Draws Extra Focus
A communications shop shapes how a security agency speaks to the public, the press, and partners. Its staff handles sensitive timelines, logistics notes, and message drafts that often intersect with protected operations.
When potential misconduct arises in that space, leaders act to protect information flows and the chain of custody for records. That is basic risk control, not a verdict. The Office of Professional Responsibility review now decides whether policy, ethics, or security rules were broken.
Recent history adds context. In July, a separate case put a Secret Service agent on Vice President JD Vance’s detail on leave during an internal review into suspected leaks for a news story about travel. That matter also went through internal channels while the facts were checked.
Different case, same core method: separate, secure, and scrutinize. The method reflects a cultural shift, as earlier oversight reports pushed the agency to tighten controls and improve disciplinary systems.
What To Watch Next
The next formal step is to interview and document work by the Office of Professional Responsibility. That unit will review emails, messages, and device logs, and take statements under policy. If it finds violations, management can impose discipline ranging from counseling to removal.
If it finds no breach, employees can return to duty. The agency’s public line—confirm the leave, cite the process, and hold further comment—matches normal practice in personnel cases with sensitive facts.
Three U.S. Secret Service employees, including Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi, were placed on administrative leave today pending an internal investigation into potential misconduct.
A CNN report indicated that all three individuals serve in non-law enforcement… pic.twitter.com/EnNg6XCtnX
— The Bruiser (@DrHoosierHermit) August 26, 2026
Two things will signal direction. First, whether the agency confirms changes to access, such as security clearances or system permissions, which often track with case severity. Second, whether the service updates leadership roles in communications, even on an acting basis, to keep daily work moving.
Both steps would be routine management, not proof of guilt. It says hold judgment until the formal record speaks, then demand clear accountability if the facts support it.
Sources:
cbsnews.com, keyt.com, newsday.com, townhall.com, secretservice.gov, govinfo.gov
