The man who breached security at the White House this month overpowered a U.S. Secret Service officer and ran through much of the main floor, penetrating farther into the building than previously disclosed, the Washington Post reported on Monday.
Later that day, Secret Service Director Julia Pierson told U.S. lawmakers at a hearing that she took full responsibility for the breach on September 19.
An Army veteran, Omar J. Gonzalez, with a knife climbed the fence and made his way well into the executive mansion before he was tackled.
Ms. Pierson also told a House panel there have been six fence-jumpers this year alone, including one just eight days before that intrusion.
A prosecutor said in court last week that officers found more than 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete in Gonzalez’ car.
Gonzalez, a decorated Iraq war veteran, had been arrested in July with a sniper rifle and a map on which the executive mansion was marked, the prosecutor said.
The Post said Gonzalez ran past a guard immediately inside the door, past the stairway leading up to the Obama family’s living quarters and into the East Room, where he was tackled at the far end of the room by an agent.
