Secret Service supervisor Xavier Morales placed on leave after 'disturbing' sexual assault claims

A high-ranking Secret Service supervisor was placed on administrative leave and had his security clearance suspended after "allegations of misconduct and potential criminal activity".

According to the Washington Post, a female employee accused the supervisor, identified as Xavier Morales, of assaulting her after-hours at the agency's headquarters last week.

The woman told police that Morales had professed his love for her during a party at Capitol City Brewing Company and that he wanted to have sex with her. Two law enforcement officials told the Post Morales allegedly made unwanted sexual advances towards the female employee and grabbed her while he attempted to kiss her on the night of 31 March. The two scuffled until he relented, the Post reported.

Morales was allegedly celebrating his new assignment as head of the Secret Service's field office in Louisville, according to the Post. He was set to report for duty there this week.

Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary confirmed that the incident was reported to the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility on 2 April. The allegations prompted the agency to conduct corroborative interviews and place the supervisor on leave.

In a statement to CBS News, Secret Service director Joseph Clancy said, "The Secret Service is an agency that demands that our employees conduct themselves with the highest level of integrity. These allegations as reported are very disturbing. Any threats or violence that endangers our employees in the workplace is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

The claims follow another case of alleged staff misconduct within the agency responsible for protecting the president and his family in recent weeks. According to CBS News, the Secret Service is under investigation for a 4 March incident in which two agency officials allegedly drove drunk into a secure area at the White House without authorisation.

Reuters reported that the two agents were subpoenaed by a House of Representatives committee on 31 March. Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz, the head of the House Oversight Committee, released a statement saying the Department of Homeland Security had declined to cooperate.