Comment Secret Service Director James Murray is stepping down as head of the famed security agency, the agency said in a statement Thursday. Murray, who has held his post since 2019, has been looking to retire “for some time” and plans to work in the private sector, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official familiar with his decision. He has accepted a top security position at California-based social media company Snapchat, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share internal details. Murray, a 27-year Secret Service veteran, held various top roles at the agency before being named director in May 2019. His last day will be July 30, according to the statement. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that under Murray’s leadership the Secret Service has “enhanced its stature as the preeminent protective agency in the world and has increased the sophistication and breadth of its investigative capabilities.” “I have benefited immensely from the opportunity to rely on Director Murray as a trusted advisor and highly valued leader at the Department of Homeland Security,” Mayorkas said in a statement. Jan. 6 Shows Secret Service Agents’ Identities Dueling: Smart Heroes vs. Trump Yes-Men A statement from the Secret Service said Murray “helped the agency navigate the unique challenges presented by the historic COVID-19 pandemic” while continuing to carry out “its comprehensive mission of providing protection to senior elected leaders and investigating crimes that they target our economic infrastructure.” The Secret Service, known for protecting current and former presidents and their families, has endured many controversies over the past decade, including a prostitution scandal, White House security lapses during the Obama administration and allegations of politicization under President Donald Trump Trump. In recent weeks, her agents have become central characters in the House Judiciary Committee’s investigation of the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified last month that Trump stormed off with his security detail on Jan. 6, 2021, when he was told he would not be allowed to join supporters marching on Capitol Hill, a spot he was hunting the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle. This is a developing story.
