“Exactly whose numbers were provided, to whom and for what purpose have yet to be determined however, the information will likely be used for a criminal investigation into the USSS employee,” the letter from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association said.
The letter went to all members of the Secret Service who are members of the FLEOA.
The letter reminds agents that Secret Service attorneys represent the interests of the organization over the individual, and encouraged them to seek FLEOA legal counsel if anyone attempts to contact them about personal records.
Larry Cosme, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, blasted the Secret Service in a statement Monday.
“This is a classic demonstration of self-preservation and a desperate attempt by leadership to cover up for their own failings at the expense of the trust and security of their employees,” Cosme wrote in a public statement Monday.
“Personal information should be protected at all costs by agencies, not leaked when convenient to cover up leadership errors,” Cosme wrote.
CNN first reported that DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari notified the Secret Service on July 20 that the probe into missing text messages is a criminal investigation.
Timeline of missing texts
CNN previously reported Cuffari was notified in May 2021 that the data migration caused the loss of text messages. Further, Cuffari’s investigators told DHS in July 2021 the agency was no longer seeking text messages from the Secret Service, as first reported by CNN.
CNN previously reported Secret Service employees were provided instructions and reminded to back up their devices twice prior to a phone migration, making clear the responsibility fell upon the individual to do so.
A letter issued Wednesday by House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson to the Secret Service says notifications were sent to employees on January 14, 2021, and again on January 25, 2021, but that employees were not explicitly directed to preserve text messages.