U.S. Secret Service Director James Murray is stepping down from his position effective July 30, the White House announced in a statement on Thursday.
Murray has served in the U.S. Secret Service for 27 years before he was appointed director by former President Donald Trump in 2019. Social media company Snap, parent of Snapchat, announced Murray has been hired as their chief security officer.
The timing of his departure has raised eyebrows around Washington, D.C.
Murray’s announcement comes on the heels of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s explosive testimony to the Democrat-controlled Jan. 6 committee on Trump’s behavior towards the Secret Service before the 2021 Capitol riot.
Secret Service officer Anthony Ornato, who was present, had recently expressed willingness to dispute Hutchinson’s most explosive claim: That Trump lunged at his security detail and tried to physically take the steering wheel so he could take the presidential SUV to the Capitol after his rally.
Ornato was detailed to serve as a senior political advisor for a year during the Trump administration — an unusual move authorized by Murray at the personal request of Trump.
This decision to allow a USSS agent – who is sworn to be above politics -to serve as a Presidential political adviser crossed a major line for @SecretService. It was approved by current director James Murray at Trump’s urging, a decision that infuriated current and former agents https://t.co/Ig8WAuoeWA
— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) April 24, 2022
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied that Murray’s departure had anything to do with Ornato and the Jan. 6 hearings.
“This has been in talks for several months,” she said, telling reporters that Murray’s departure was first discussed back in April.
“Director Jim Murray has led a long and distinguished career in federal and military service for three decades, including the last three years as Director of the United States Secret Service,” a statement by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said.
“Jim embodies the meaning of service over self, and protected the families of U.S. Presidents like they were part of his own. We are incredibly grateful for his service to our country and our family.”
Director Murray, your #SecretService family wishes you nothing but the best in retirement! pic.twitter.com/nbggwoudO8
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) July 7, 2022
The Horn editorial team