The owner of the salon has claimed that U.S. Secret Service officers taped over security cameras and broke into the salon to use the bathroom ahead of a recent Kamala-Harris fundraiser.
Alicia Powers of Four One Three Salon, Pittsfield told Business Insider she had closed her salon for the day, July 27, at the Secret Service’s request, as it was located behind the Colonial Theatre where Harris spoke.
She claimed that security agents had been at her salon earlier in the week to inspect the area, but she did not expect that they would return once the building had been locked.
Powers said that the bomb sweeps were being done by a group of people. “I understand the urgency of their actions, given the circumstances,” Powers explained. At that point, Powers said, “my team felt it was a bit chaotic and we made the decision to shut down for Saturday.”
Powers shared footage of a Secret Service agent climbing on a chair and covering the lens as he approached the salon door.
Secret Service batting a 1000 at this point.
“Secret Service agents taped over a security camera and broke into a Massachusetts hair salon while securing the area for a Kamala Harris campaign event, according to the salon’s owner.
The intrusion happened on July 27, ahead of… pic.twitter.com/fX13C2lJhQ— Literally Heather (@Shouse34) August 9, 2024
Another camera in the salon captured a second video showing multiple emergency medical personnel and law enforcement officers entering the salon. One of them even appears to be taking something small from Powers’ desk.
During the two hours, several people entered the salon without the owner’s permission. In the background, you can hear the salon’s alarm going off the entire time.
Powers reported that she found the salon unlocked with the camera still taped up and the door had been opened.
She said, “A few people were coming and going for an hour and a half — using my bathroom, alarms ringing, using my countertop, without permission.”
“They left after using the bathroom for about two hours and left the building unlocked. They did not remove the tape from the camera.”
Powers reported that, later that day an EMS worker informed her that the Secret Service Agent in charge of securing that area “was telling the people to come into and use the restroom.”
Powers stated that she felt “violated by the entire ordeal”.
She told the outlet that she would have opened the door to anyone who came, regardless of whether they were celebrities or not. I would’ve made them coffee, and brought them donuts, making it a wonderful afternoon for them. “But they had the audacity not to even ask permission.” “They just helped themselves.”
Powers’ landlord Brian Smith also told Business Insider the Secret Service had “no permission whatsoever” to enter.
Secret Service spokeswoman Melissa McKenzie confirmed that the agency had “since communicated with” Powers.
The spokeswoman told the outlet that the U.S. Secret Service worked closely with its partners in the business world to fulfill our investigative and protective missions. The Secret Service has contacted the business owner affected.
She added, “We value these relationships and would never enter a business, or instruct one of our partners to do so, without the permission of the owner.”
The head of Secret Service Boston’s field office apologized to Powers on Thursday, more than a week after this incident.
She said, “He told me that everything I did was wrong.” “They weren’t supposed to cover my camera without permission.” “They were not supposed to enter the building without permission.”
The salon owner said that the person who spoke to her offered to clean the salon, pay the alarm company’s bill for that day, and visit the shop to apologize personally.
Powers confirmed that she would honor his offer.
