Private Secret Service Records Left On Metro

WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Their job is to keep secrets.  But reports show the Secret Service let some secrets about their agents and even informants slip on the D.C. Metro.

Christie Ileto reports.

Detailed financial, medical and other Secret Service records with private information was left on the D.C. Red Line.  It really did happen back in 2008.  The Washington, D.C. CBS station says it's no secret the Secret Service is now being investigated by the Inspector General.

"Anytime you have a compromise of information that could somehow put into play an agent or an officer's vulnerabilities, then you have a threat to national security," said Mark Zaid, attorney.

CNN reports those missing files haven't been recovered. The lost information was reportedly on two computer tapes headed to a secure storage facility in Maryland.

The contractor transporting them apparently left the tapes on the train when it came to the end of the Metro line.

"Why wasn't it chained to his wrist with a handcuff and a case?" said Eric O'Neil, former FBI agent.

The Secret Service issued this statement, verifying the incident happened:

"These back-up tapes were not marked or identified in any way and were protected by multiple layers of security.  They could not be accessed without the proper equipment, applications and encoding."

The Secret Service says Metro Transit Police were notified, and assisted them in trying to locate the missing files.  But for now, those files are still out there and may not be secret for long.

The Secret Service says they've instituted protocols to prevent this from happening again.  To date, there have been no reported incidents associated with the loss of the tapes.