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Who is James M Murray? Meet the head of Secret Service who will escort Donald Trump out of the White House

'This is as expected. It’s actually a little bit delayed. It’s not telegraphing any specific concern,' said officials
UPDATED NOV 8, 2020
James M Murray and Joe Biden (USSS, Getty Images)
James M Murray and Joe Biden (USSS, Getty Images)

Federal law enforcement agency United States Secret Service (USSS) is reportedly sending additional agents to Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden’s hometown Wilmington, Delaware to ramp up his protection as the former vice president inches closer to a potential victory in elections.

Augmenting protective measures for potential presidents is reportedly a common practice. As per CNN, a team for Biden has been on standby since last week. “This is as expected. It’s actually a little bit delayed. It’s not telegraphing any specific concern,” a senior law enforcement officials told CNN. The boosting of security typically happens on election night, the official told, but USSS has played it "cautiously" as the agency does not want to be seen as the one making a decision before the announcement of final results.

CNN reported that it has observed additional security assets in Biden’s motorcade that is equipped to handle a wide range of threats. However, the USSS has been tight-lipped on such security measures telling CNN, “For operational security reasons, the Secret Service cannot discuss specifically or in general terms the means, methods or resources we utilize to carry out our protective mission.” Such reports of additional security to Biden comes as he edges closer to projected electoral victory after gaining a stronghold in swing states. 

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden walks with his granddaughter Finnegan Biden as they arrive at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church for mass on the morning of November 3, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware (Getty Images)

Now, one would be wondering about the inner workings of the Secret Service. Here we shed some light on who is the head of the USSS and how much they get paid for the secret jobs.

Who is the head of the Secret Service and what is the salary?

The United States Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency. It comes under the Department of Homeland Security. The agency's mission is to provide protection cover for “President, Vice President, their families, former Presidents, and major candidates for those offices, along with the White House and the Vice President’s residence” and other dignitaries. 

The agency is headed by James M Murray who is the 26th Director of the USSS sworn into the office on May 1, 2019. The agency mentions his duties that involve the “successful execution of the dual Investigative and Protective missions of the Secret Service. He leads a diverse workforce, comprised of more than 7,000 Special Agents, Uniformed Division Officers, Technical Law Enforcement Officers, and Administrative, Professional, and Technical personnel.”

Murray embarked on his Secret Service career in 1995 as a Special Agent in the New York Field Office. From there till the present time, he has been promoted several times before he finally became the director of the agency. In his 29 years long career, Murray has conducted cyber-enabled financial crime investigations. 

In 2016-18, Murray served as the Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations, “where he led combined agency efforts in support of the 2016 Campaign, Presidential Transition, and Inauguration before the new president takes office.” In April 2018, Murray was responsible for “planning, coordination, administration, and execution of the Secret Service’s global protective mission.”

The other two top-notch officials at the USSS include Leonza “Leon” Newsome III and George D. Mulligan. Leonza was appointed as the 21st Deputy Director of the Secret Service on August 4, 2019. USSS mentions he is responsible for direct oversight of the agency’s daily investigative and protective operations. On the other front,  Mulligan was appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) on July 30, 2015, and is responsible for planning and directing all business and programmatic activities at the agency.

There is not much information on the salary earned of USSS head James M Murray. However, an average USSS special agent's yearly pay in the United States is nearly $138,581, which is 101% above the national average, Indeed reported.

Will he escort Donald Trump out of the White House?

As we said on July 19th, the American people will decide this election," Biden's team said in a statement Friday, November 6, 2020. "And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House." Newsweek reports that the Secret Service would be the ones to do it, as per one former US official and two experts

"As of noon of January 2021 the Beast doesn't belong to him, AF1 doesn't belong to him, and the White House doesn't belong to him," former US Navy intelligence and counter-terrorism specialist Malcolm Nance told Newsweek. "If he says he will not physically leave the White House, they will physically remove him," he added. "They may have to put hands on him to remove him. They may tell him if he doesn't make his flight, he may have to contract his own flight." The White House Historical Association told the outlet, "No sitting president has ever refused to leave office or vacate the White House in the course of American history."

Georgetown Law professor Rosa Brooks and Berggruen Institute Vice President of Programs Nils Gilman concluded: "If Biden is projected to win and is then formally certified as the winner in the Joint Session of Congress on Jan 6, he is officially going to be the next President, whether Trump concedes or not. Once Biden is sworn in on inauguration day, power transfers to him, and the Secret Service will indeed escort former President Trump out of the White House."

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