Scoop: Trump shooting spurs bill to split up the Secret Service

[Elderberry]

Axios by Andrew Solender 8/13/2024

A House Democrat is introducing legislation that would cleave off the Secret Service's original mission of investigating financial crimes and have the agency focus solely on protecting political leaders, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It is an idea that has been floated for years and has recently received bipartisan support in the aftermath of last month's assassination attempt against former President Trump.

Driving the news: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) is introducing a bill, first obtained by Axios, to "transfer the investigative jurisdiction over payment and financial systems" from the Secret Service to the Treasury Department.

•   The Focus on Protection Act would require the transfer of all assets and personnel involved in the financial crimes mission within 180 days.

•   Such a move would "enhance efficiency and focus in combating financial crimes" and allow the Secret Service to "focus on its core mission" of protecting high-profile U.S. political figures, their families and visiting foreign dignitaries.

•   Torres and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) introduced a bill after the Trump shooting to enhance protection for Trump and President Biden and to provide a Secret Service detail for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

More: https://www.axios.com/2024/08/13/trump-shooting-secret-service-financial-crimes

[mystery-ak]

Not a bad idea but would the financial crimes division be a new agency?

[rustynail]

A Bill and a Stern Letter?

[Maj. Bill Martin]

This is a good idea.  There's no valid operational reason why the same person should be responsible for those two disparate functions.  Split it up.

[Elderberry]

Not a bad idea but would the financial crimes division be a new agency?

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/financial-crimes-enforcement-network

The U.S. Department of the Treasury established the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network in 1990 to provide a government-wide multisource financial intelligence and analysis network. The organization's operation was broadened in 1994 to include regulatory responsibilities for administering the Bank Secrecy Act, one of the nation's most potent weapons for preventing corruption of the U.S. financial system.

The mission of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is to enhance U.S. national security, deter and detect criminal activity, and safeguard financial systems from abuse by promoting transparency in the U.S. and international financial systems.

Agency URL:
    http://www.fincen.gov/
Parent Agency
    Treasury Department

[verga]

I thought the FBI had a White Collar division that did that already

[Elderberry]

I thought the FBI had a White Collar division that did that already

The FBI is under the Department of the Treasury, just like the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is.

[verga]

The FBI is under the Department of the Treasury, just like the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is.

So why id the Secret Service involved at all?