A recent report from TMZ has sparked controversy over a supposed security lapse involving the U.S. Secret Service's protection of former President Barack Obama.

According to the report, a Los Angeles security guard claimed he was able to approach Obama's SUV without being stopped by Secret Service agents, and the incident is said to have taken place on Saturday evening when two agents were reportedly standing away from the vehicle, as Newsweek reports.

The guard provided a photo to TMZ, alleging that it was taken during the time of his approach. He noted that he recognized the former president seated inside the vehicle, using a laptop. The guard, who was armed at the time, decided to back away upon realizing who was inside the vehicle.

Secret Service Responds to TMZ Report

In response to the claims, the U.S. Secret Service has issued a strong denial. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed to Newsweek that no Secret Service protectees were in the vehicle when the security guard was in the area.

"The Secret Service cannot provide the details on our means and methods of protection, but we can confirm that at no time were any Secret Service protectees in the vehicle while the individual was walking down the alleyway," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also described the claims as "inaccurate," adding that the photo was taken as the vehicle departed the scene, not at the time of the alleged interaction. The guard claimed that the agents eventually approached him approximately 30 minutes later to request his credentials and his license to carry a concealed weapon.

Recent Scrutiny of Secret Service Performance

The claims about the Obama incident have emerged at a time when the U.S. Secret Service is under increased scrutiny for previous failures. Earlier this year, there was an assassination attempt at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. This event on July 13 drew attention to security lapses, and a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs investigation followed soon after.

The Senate report revealed miscommunications between Secret Service agents and local law enforcement, which contributed to failures in securing the rally.

Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who chairs the committee, criticized these lapses as avoidable. "Every single one of those failures was preventable and the consequences of those failures were dire," Peters said in the report.

Allegations Against Active-Duty Secret Service Agent

In addition to these security concerns, the Secret Service is also facing an internal investigation into a different matter. Allegations have surfaced that an active-duty agent sexually assaulted a staff member of Vice President Kamala Harris last week in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This case remains under investigation, and no further details have been publicly released at this time.

The combination of these ongoing issues has intensified public and political scrutiny of the agency's effectiveness. While the Secret Service has frequently been lauded for its ability to protect the nation's highest-ranking officials, recent events have raised questions about its performance in critical situations.

Claims of 'Security Lapse' Disputed

The latest claims about a possible breach in security surrounding former President Obama add to the growing list of issues the agency is currently navigating. However, the Secret Service’s firm denial of the incident casts at least some doubt on the validity of the report.

The security guard’s statement to TMZ about there being no agents directly near the SUV when he approached raises concerns, but the agency’s account of the situation tells a different story. According to the Secret Service, their personnel was in full control, and at no point was any protected individual at risk.

TMZ's reporting included the guard’s assertion that the encounter felt like a lapse in security. "There was no one on the backside of the SUV," the guard said, adding to the perception that the agents were inattentive. Nonetheless, the Secret Service's version of events, which suggests a misunderstanding of the situation, seems to contradict the guard's account.

Secret Service Defends Protocols

Despite public concern, the Secret Service has remained steadfast in its defense of the protocols in place to protect high-profile individuals. The agency emphasized that the situation was handled according to its procedures and that the protectees were never in jeopardy.

Given the timing of the guard’s approach, which the Secret Service claims occurred before the former president entered the vehicle, it is unlikely that the alleged lapse posed any significant danger. The agency’s ability to safeguard its protectees, even in a high-traffic city like Los Angeles, is central to its mission, and officials maintain that no breach occurred in this instance.

Concluding Scrutiny of Secret Service Operations

The Secret Service remains in the spotlight as it deals with both the recent claims regarding the Obama SUV incident and ongoing investigations tied to other security failures. These issues highlight the complexities of the agency's work in protecting the nation’s leaders while facing public criticism.

In summary, the report of a security lapse in the protection of former President Obama has been firmly denied by the U.S. Secret Service. With ongoing challenges to its performance and internal conduct, the agency continues to navigate a difficult period of public scrutiny.