Secret Service apologizes after illegally breaking into Massachusetts salon during Kamala Harris fundraiser

PITTSFIELD, MA - In a surprising and controversial incident on July 27, 2024, Secret Service agents were involved in a breach of privacy at a Massachusetts hair salon during a campaign event for Kamala Harris. The event took place at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a venue located near the Four One Three Salon owned by Alicia Powers.

The salon was closed on the day of the fundraiser, as Powers complied with a request from the Secret Service to secure the area. The Secret Service had conducted bomb sweeps in the vicinity earlier that week, which led to the decision to close the business for the day. However, what happened next left Powers feeling violated and concerned about the actions of those tasked with protecting the Vice President.

On the morning of the event, a Secret Service agent was captured on the salon's security camera taping over the lens of a Ring camera on the property. The agent was seen swinging a roll of masking tape and then using a chair to cover the camera, a move that raised immediate concerns about transparency and respect for private property.

Despite the door being locked, later that afternoon, multiple individuals were seen entering the salon. Security footage showed four people, including individuals in emergency medical services uniforms and a person in camouflage law enforcement attire, using the salon's bathroom over the course of nearly two hours.

The salon's security alarm was triggered during this time, yet the individuals continued to enter and leave without any apparent concern. Powers did not give permission for anyone to enter the salon, and she later found that the door's lock appeared to have been tampered with.

The individuals who entered left the bathroom in disarray and did not restore the camera to its original state, leaving the tape covering the lens. Powers expressed her frustration, stating that the incident felt like a disregard for her business and her rights as a property owner. She emphasized that she would have been more than willing to accommodate any legitimate request from the Secret Service if they had simply asked for permission.

Powers said she felt "violated."

"Whoever was visiting, whether it was a celebrity or not, I probably would've opened the door and made them coffee and brought in donuts to make it a great afternoon for them," she stated. "But they didn't even have the audacity to ask for permission. They just helped themselves."

The Secret Service initially denied any wrongdoing, stating that their agents would not have entered the premises without permission. However, after reporters reached out for comment, the Secret Service acknowledged the incident and apologized to Powers.

The head of the Secret Service's Boston-based field office personally called Powers to offer an apology, admitting that the agents' actions were not in line with proper protocol. He also offered to have the salon cleaned and to cover any costs incurred by the security alarm being triggered.

While the incident did not result in significant damage to the salon, it raised questions about the Secret Service's conduct and respect for private property. Powers accepted an invitation to meet with the Secret Service representative over coffee to discuss the matter further and to show him the impact the incident could have had on her business and community involvement.

"I want him to see the salon, and I want him to see what I do for the community, and be in this space, and have an understanding as to how this could have been ruined with the slightest wrong move," she said.

This incident highlights the delicate balance between security measures and respecting the rights of private citizens, especially during high-profile events. The Secret Service's apology and offer to make amends suggest an acknowledgment of this balance and the importance of maintaining trust with the public.