Secret Service: White House Front Doors Now Lock Automatically

Today's Walk of Shame is brought to you by Julia Pierson, director of the bumbling Secret Service currently being grilled by frothing members of the House Oversight Committee on the not-inconsequential matter of how a heavily-armed Omar Gonzalez was able to get deep inside the White House. Calling the lapse "unacceptable," Pierson fell on her sword, adding that "I take full responsibility" and vowing that it "would not happen again." Pierson also noted a seemingly obvious security upgrade that's more surprising for not being in place earlier: The front doors of the White House now lock automatically, reports the AP.

If Pierson was the piñata, members on both sides of the aisle were eager to take a swing, notes Politico. Highlights/lowlights, also via the National Review:

• Stephen Lynch, D-Mass.: "I wish to God you protected the White House like you’re protecting your reputation here today. I wish you spent that time and that effort to protect the American president, and his family, like I’m hearing people covering for the lapses of the Secret Service on these several occasions. I really do." Then: "I have very low confidence in the Secret Service under your leadership."
• Darrell Issa, R-Calif.: "Common sense tells us this was a significant security failure—not an instance of praiseworthy restraint. This failure has once again tested the trust of the American people in the Secret Service—a trust already strained by a string of recent scandals."
• Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah: "If you project weakness, you invite attacks. Don’t let somebody get close to the president … don’t let them get close to the White House, ever. If they have to take action that’s lethal, I will have their back."

(More Secret Service stories.)