Still dropping like flies

Tex can hear through walls, can't he?

The announcement, made by President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders on Monday, comes a day after the resignation of another top national security official, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

"United States Secret Service director Randolph 'Tex' Alles ... will be leaving shortly and President Trump has selected James M Murray, a career member of the USSS, to take over as director beginning in May," Sanders said in a statement.

  alJazeera

All rather abrupt.

The Associated Press news agency, citing three unnamed administration officials, reported that Alles's departure stems from a personality conflict within the agency.

The officials added that the departure is unrelated to the resignation of Nielsen, as well as a recent security breach at the president's private club in Florida.

I can believe the Nielsen part, but I bet there's something involving that Chinese lady's arrest. And...a conflict within the agency?

CNN, citing multiple administration officials, reported that Trump instructed his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to fire Alles.

That's what I thought. The conflict is with Trump.

Alles's departure comes amid a spate of turnover across DHS that began last week when President Trump withdrew his Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director's nomination to stay on permanently.

One official described the firings to CNN as "a near-systematic purge" at the DHS. The Secret Service director reports to the director of Homeland Security.

Just five days ago, Trump said he "could not be happier with Secret Service" following the Mar-a-Lago incident.

"Secret Service has done a fantastic job from Day 1. Very happy with them," Trump said during a White House event when asked by reporters about the Mar-a-Lago trespasser.

  CNN

That's when they all knew somebody's head was on the chopping block.

The President in recent weeks empowered Stephen Miller to lead the administration's border policies "and he's executing his plan" with what amounts to a wholesale decapitation [of] the Department of Homeland Security leadership, the official says.

The departure of the Secret Service chief comes amid a broader shake-up in the Department of Homeland Security. On Sunday, Trump announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen would be stepping down. Last week, Trump said he was rescinding his nomination of Ronald Vitiello to be director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying he wanted to go in a “tougher” direction. Both Alles and Vitiello reported to Nielsen.

Security protocols around Trump have come under scrutiny in recent days after an apparent security breach at the president’s Florida resort.

[...]

Trump selected Alles, a retired Marine Corps general and former acting deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, in 2017. He was the first Secret Service director in at least 100 years not from the agency’s ranks.

[...]

The Secret Service issued a statement after the woman was caught, appearing to lay blame for the security breach on management at Trump’s club.

“The Secret Service does not determine who is invited or welcome at Mar-a-Lago; this is the responsibility of the host entity,” the agency said.

  WaPo

That statement is probably what set Trump off.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a statement Monday calling for Alles to testify before Congress concerning Mar-a-Lago and any security issues the president’s club poses, as well as other matters.

That'll set him off more.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE:  Apparently Alles was told he'd be leaving before the security incident.