White House BREAKS SILENCE over Melania Trump Mar-a-Lago visit security breach
THE White House has released a statement following the security breach in Mar-a-Lago while President Trump and his wife Melania were there.
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A woman had accessed the property after reportedly telling the US Secret Service she was a member of the exclusive resort last weekend. Yujing Zhang has since been charged with allegedly making a false statement to federal agents and illegally entering a restricted area. The department said: “The Secret Service does not determine who is invited or welcome at Mar-a-Lago; this is the responsibility of the host entity.
“The Mar-a-Lago club management determines which members and guests are granted access to the property.
“On March 30, 2019, physical screening was conducted by the Secret Service once Mar-a-Lago staff determined an individual was to be granted to the property.
“After the first physical screening, Mar-a-Lago staff transported the individual by a shuttle to the next screening checkpoint.
“Individuals are prohibited from disembarking the shuttle between screenings and the route is monitored by Secret Service personnel.
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“After undergoing screening at the second Secret Service checkpoint the individual, per club protocol, was immediately met by club reception.
“The Mar-a-Lag reception staff then determined that the individual should not have been authorised access by their staff and Secret Service agents took immediate action resulting in the arrest of the individual.”
Zhang reportedly told federal agents she there to attend the United Nations Chinese American Association event, differing from her previous story.
The event didn’t exist despite Zhang having an invitation for it.
The agent said Zhang was taken off the grounds and told she could not be there.
Zhang was found to be carrying two Chinese passports and a device with computer malware.
She remains in custody until a hearing next week.
If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison.
Lawyers for Zhang declined to comment when asked by the BBC.