A Secret Service agent previously scrutinized for a significant security lapse at a presidential rally is now facing a new internal investigation concerning an undisclosed marriage to a foreign national. Miyo Perez, an agent who was previously faulted in connection with the security breakdown at President Donald Trump’s Butler rally, has been placed on administrative leave and given "DO NOT ADMIT" status as the agency examines potential violations of its reporting regulations.
The core of the current investigation centers on allegations that Perez failed to disclose her marriage to a Brazilian national for approximately nine months. This alleged oversight raises serious internal security concerns, particularly given the strict federal requirements for agents to report close relationships with foreign nationals, especially when such relationships could pose potential security risks. Public records indicate that Perez married the individual in April 2025. However, sources familiar with the case suggest that she did not notify the Secret Service until January of the following year, creating a substantial nine-month gap that investigators are now thoroughly examining.
This marks the third suspension for Perez within a little over a year, intensifying scrutiny around her conduct and the agency’s oversight protocols. Her name first gained prominence during congressional investigations into the Butler rally incident, where lawmakers raised concerns about key security decisions. Perez was specifically criticized for failing to assign security personnel to the sloped roof of the American Glass Building, a location from which gunman Thomas Crooks carried out an attempted assassination. This failure prompted broader questions regarding the planning and execution of security at an event that had been designated as high-risk. Congressional members also voiced apprehension that an agent with limited experience was placed in a critical operational role despite intelligence warnings about potential threats to President Trump’s life.
The focus of the agency's inquiries has since broadened from operational failures to personal conduct. Investigators are now scrutinizing whether Perez properly disclosed earlier contacts with the Brazilian national in 2024 and if the agency accurately tracked the progression of the relationship. They are also examining whether she adhered to established protocols as the relationship intensified, including cohabitation and subsequent marriage. Furthermore, officials are reviewing the foreign national's immigration status, including whether they were legally present in the United States at the time of the marriage and if there were any associated visa issues or immigration violations.
This incident has reignited long-standing concerns within the Secret Service regarding the management of relationships with foreign nationals and the consistency of enforcing disclosure rules. Critics frequently point to past incidents as evidence of deeper systemic issues within the agency. One often-cited example involves a suspected Russian spy who reportedly operated within the U.S. Embassy in Moscow for years, with allegations that internal concerns about the individual were dismissed. Some sources have also claimed the individual had a relationship with a senior Secret Service agent, though specific details remain contested. This historical context is now fueling renewed anxieties that potential warning signs within the agency's ranks could be overlooked or missed.
In Perez’s specific case, investigators are working to determine whether the alleged failure to disclose was a lapse in individual judgment, a breakdown in internal oversight mechanisms, or a combination of both factors. Regardless of the precise cause, the confluence of a prior security failure and a new personal conduct investigation is placing significant renewed pressure on the Secret Service to address its internal policies and enforcement practices. President Donald Trump has reportedly banned Perez from being near him, according to a social media post by John Basham, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
