Julia Pierson: US Secret Service director resigns

US Secret Service Director Julia Pierson has resigned following a number of security lapses at the White House.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Ms Pierson, the first woman to lead the agency in charge of protecting the president, had offered her resignation and he had accepted it.

The move came one day after Ms Pierson’s appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a congressional hearing focused on recent security lapses at the White House.

She steps down only 18 months after US president Barack Obama selected her to take over a law enforcement agency that had been tarnished by a prostitution scandal.

Her departure follows mounting criticism by Congress members from both parties, including Mr Obama's allies Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, and Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

She had worked at the Secret Service for 30 years.

Agencies