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Norton Visits White House Perimeter Ahead of Oversight Hearing on Breach

September 29, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, toured the perimeter of the White House today to see for herself whether public access is being safeguarded or if the first target for fixing White House security was the public. Norton toured the perimeter in preparation for tomorrow's Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on security breaches at the White House. Norton is concerned about what appears to be major construction taking place at the North fence, and its role in keeping the White House both secure and open. She will be inquiring about whether this construction means that a major change to public access is underway. She was less concerned about the three-foot high unsightly barricades that have been erected around the North fence, but only if they are temporary. She believes these barricades may end up blocking the historic vista to the White House. Norton also saw routine work being done on the fence, and is worried that the work will prevent alternatives she has suggested, such as installing a taller or more curved fence. The hearing will be held tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in Rayburn House Office Building, room 2154. It can also be live-streamed here.

"On my visit to the White House perimeter this morning, I saw the ugly barriers that keep people a few feet from the fence, with signs affixed to the barriers that said ‘Police Line, Do Not Cross,'" Norton said. "In light of the fence jumping incident, this surely must be a quick fix that can be tolerated while the Secret Service does the needed investigation. Looking ahead to tomorrow's unusual hearing held during the recess, I must wonder whether this will be a pre-election show hearing, as the Secret Service hasn't even had a chance to complete a full and thorough investigation. ‘Change first, investigation later' doesn't work, particularly when it comes to protecting the President."

Last week, Norton sent a letter requesting a meeting with U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson, who later phoned her. Norton told her that if changes that alter public access to the White House perimeter prove necessary, they "should be in line with current public access to the areas surrounding the White House and maintain the current views of this historic and national landmark."

Following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the Secret Service attempted to close the entire area around the White House to public access. This included E Street to the South of the White House. Norton worked with the White House and the National Park Service to construct a road sufficiently far enough so as to not endanger the White House, but to maintain the access by cars across E Street. However, the road was summarily closed down after 9/11 and the Secret Service has since found no way to reopen this road.