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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
JD Vance blames Secret Service over raising of Ohio river level to accommodate VP's birthday kayaking trip
Vice President JD Vance's office said the Secret Service requested that water levels in an Ohio river be raised to accommodate a birthday kayaking trip and the Republican was unaware. Vance was on a family vacation in south-western Ohio last week, and spotted by locals kayaking down the Little Miami River on his birthday on August 2, when he turned 41. The Secret Service requested that Army Corps engineers change the outflow of Caesar Creek Lake, which feeds into the river, to 'support safe navigation' of Vance's security detail, The Guardian first reported. An anonymous source told the newspaper the request was also made to create 'ideal kayaking conditions' for the vice president, according to the report. A source familiar with the matter denied that claim to The Independent. During a Secret Service scouting mission of the area with local public safety officials ahead of Vance's trip, one of the boats ran aground, the source said. The decision to raise the water levels was made for security reasons, the source claimed. The vice president was unaware the water level had been raised, according to a Vance spokesperson. 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the Vice President or his staff, as was the case last weekend,' the spokesperson told The Independent. A Secret Service spokesperson previously told The Independent it coordinated with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that Vance's security detail could 'operate safely with appropriate water levels during a recent visit.' In early August, aligning with the dates Vance was in the area, there was a sudden increase in the river level and a corresponding drop in Caesar Creek Lake's water surface elevation, according to public data on the U.S. Geological Survey website. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Gene Pawlik said that a request was received to 'temporarily increase outflows from Caesar Creek Lake to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel.' Critics said it appeared hypocritical of Vance to receive 'special treatment' for his family vacation in the beauty spot when his administration has overseen drastic job cuts in the National Park Service. 'It's outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else,' ethics lawyer Richard Painter, who served in George W. Bush's administration, reacted in a post on X. Certain accommodations have been made for the vice president's family on other trips around the globe. During a recent trip to Italy, the Roman Colosseum was closed to the public so that his wife, Usha, and their children could take a tour, sparking anger among some tourists. The Taj Mahal also was closed to visitors during the Vance family's visit to India. Protesters have also frequently crashed Vance's family vacations in the six months he has been in office. After word spread that Vance and his family planned a day out at Disneyland in California last month, hundreds turned out to protest at the theme park, to condemn the Trump administration's immigration raids across the state. In March, protesters lined the streets near the ski resort the vice president was staying at with his family in Vermont. Vance is soon headed for the U.K. countryside hotspot of the Cotswolds on his next family vacation, where he is expected to rent a quaint rural cottage. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House scrambles to explain Secret Service raising river level for JD Vance's Ohio birthday kayak outing
The White House is defending a decision by the U.S. Secret Service to have the Army Corps of Engineers raise the water level of a river in Ohio so Vice President JD Vance could kayak with his family for his 41st birthday. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The Associated Press reports that on August 1, the Corps temporarily increased outflows from Caesar Creek Lake in southwest Ohio into the Little Miami River, which runs through the Cincinnati metropolitan area, at the request of the Secret Service 'to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel.' Vance spent the following day, August 2, kayaking on the river near his Cincinnati home. Corps spokesperson Gene Pawlik said the adjustment met operational criteria and 'would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels.' He added that 'downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase.' The agency declined to disclose the cost. Related: JD Vance's leaked Spotify playlist is filled with gay anthems Vance spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk said, 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the Vice President or his staff, as was the case last weekend.' Criticism came quickly. Richard W. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, wrote on X that 'it's outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else.' Those cuts include the Trump administration's February firing of about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees, including maintenance workers, guides, and educators, as part of a broad effort to downsize the federal workforce. Park advocates have warned that the reductions will shorten visitor center hours, close campgrounds, delay openings, and put public safety at risk. Related: JD Vance admits to making up crazy stories to get press attention and says he'll continue doing it On Wednesday, Tommy Vietor, cofounder of Crooked Media and cohost of Pod Save America, posted: 'Man of the people @JDVance had the Army Corps of engineers CHANGE THE WATER LEVEL OF A RIVER so his family could go boating on a family vacation...'On Friday morning, William Martin, communications director for the vice president, kept the story alive by posting on X: 'The Secret Service raised the water level in order to get their emergency motor boats on the river with the Vances. Also the Little Miami is five minutes away from the VP's house, not quite a 'family vacation.'' The river episode adds to a growing list of instances in which accommodations for Vance's security have limited public access. Earlier this year, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in India were closed during his family visits, sparking complaints from tourists. This article originally appeared on Advocate: White House scrambles to explain Secret Service raising river level for JD Vance's Ohio birthday kayak outing RELATED While Trump's campaign remains mum on photo appearing to show JD Vance in drag, the internet has thoughts JD Vance admits to making up crazy stories to get press attention and says he'll continue doing it JD Vance's leaked Spotify playlist is filled with gay anthems Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JD Vance Ordered a River's Water Level Raised for His Family Boat Trip
Vice President JD Vance's team made the extraordinary decision to raise the water level of an Ohio river during a Vance family boating excursion. The request was made by the U.S. Secret Service in order to support the safe navigation of Vance's security detail down the Little Miami River, where Vance and his family recently spent his 41st birthday, according to an exclusive in The Guardian Wednesday. Vance and his family were spotted going down the river by locals over the weekend, the report noted, citing social media posts. Vance was said to be seen canoeing on the river. One Reddit user specifically noted the presence of Secret Service agents. 'Bridge and traffic were disrupted in Milford because someone wanted to canoe down the Little Miami River this morning,' the Saturday post read. A spokesperson for the Army Corps of Engineers told The Guardian that their Louisville office had received 'a request to temporarily increase outflows from Caesar Creek Lake to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel.' An anonymous source alleged that the request was also made in order to create 'ideal kayaking conditions' for the vice president and his family. The Guardian could not independently confirm the claim. Requests for comment by the Daily Beast to Vance's office, the Secret Service, and USACE were not returned by the time of publication. The vice president's office also did not respond to a request for comment from The Guardian. Norm Eisen, a former White House special counsel for ethics and government reform, told the newspaper that while he received a lot of 'unusual' requests during his time with President Barack Obama, 'I never got one to increase the outflow of a waterway as part of a government official going kayaking.' 'My nickname was 'Mr No' and I certainly would have lived up to it in this situation. I never would have permitted this kind of a thing because whether it technically violates the rules or not, it creates the appearance that the vice president of the United States is getting special treatment that's not available to the average person who wants to utilize that body of water for recreational purposes.' U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data for Caesar Creek Lake shows a sharp increase in water surface elevation followed by a sudden drop around early August, during the time the Vance family was vacationing in the area. In a statement to The Guardian, the Secret Service said that it had worked with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and USACE to plan the safe passage of motorized boats during a recent visit, but that it could not discuss specifics. As The Guardian notes, USACE has modified water levels before upon request, including for community events or when training emergency responders, but their anonymous source also notes that requests designed to accommodate individuals are incredibly rare. In response to an enquiry from The Guardian about whether the decision to alter the water levels was properly documented, a spokesperson for USACE said that the request from the Secret Service 'met the operational criteria outlined in the Water Control Manual for Caesar Creek Lake and did not require a deviation from normal procedures'. 'It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels,' the spokesperson added. Vance's family vacations have become online fodder since the 41-year-old took office alongside Trump. A Vance family trip to Disneyland last month drew crowds of protesters already incensed by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom even weighed in, tweeting, 'Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you're tearing apart certainly won't.' Vance was also confronted by protesters during a family ski vacation in Vermont earlier this year, with many expressing their frustrations at the administration's handling of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Lest Vance consider overseas vacations a quieter alternative, protestors in the U.K. have announced plans to disrupt the Vance family's upcoming vacation to the Cotswolds later this month. A spokesperson for the Stop Trump coalition, which also protested President Donald Trump's recent visit to Scotland, told The Telegraph that even in the countryside, Vance 'will find the resistance waiting.' 'J.D. Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the U.K. as Donald Trump,' they added. Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
08-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Secret Service request to raise river level made ‘without knowledge' of JD Vance, his office says
A spokesperson for JD Vance said he and his staff were unaware that the Secret Service decided earlier this month to ask military engineers to raise the water level of the Little Miami River ahead of a family boating trip, which took place on his birthday. 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the vice-president or his staff, as was the case last weekend,' the spokesperson said. The statement followed the publication of a Guardian report on Wednesday that revealed the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) in Louisville, Kentucky, had been asked by the Secret Service to raise the outflow of a lake to accommodate Vance's boating excursion. The USACE had said on Wednesday the decision was made to 'support safe navigation' of Vance's security detail. The Secret Service provided additional information on Thursday, emphasizing in a 'revised' statement to the Guardian the vice-president's office was 'not involved in the decision' and that it had been 'operationally necessary' to adjust the water levels to accommodate motorized watercraft, local law enforcement and emergency responders. 'These decisions were made solely by agents during our standard advance planning process and did not involve the Office of the Vice President,' the Secret Service said in a statement. A public safety boat is also alleged to have run aground during a joint scouting mission with the Secret Service ahead of the trip, prompting the Secret Service's decision to seek an elevation in the water level. Vance's office had not initially responded to the Guardian's request when asked about the water level change in connection to his boating excursion. But the publication of the Guardian's story generated some controversy. Marcy Kaptur, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio, posted a tweet demanding more information about the USACE move, saying: 'Outrageous! Must be why he wasn't available to meet about his Big Bonanza for Billionaires Bill which will devastate Ohio manufacturing jobs and our rural hospitals. The Army Corp of Engineers should share records with relevant committee of jurisdiction in Congress.' The news also elicited comparisons to an embarrassing episode for another vice-president, Al Gore, who faced scrutiny in 1999 after a local utility poured millions of gallons of water into the Connecticut River to keep him from running aground during a canoe trip. It is not unprecedented for the USACE to modify outflows to accommodate public use – for example, for use in community river events and training for emergency responders. USACE regulations regarding requests for so-called 'deviations' – or any changes to normal practices – require approval and documentation that demonstrates why the deviation is justified. This process also ensures that risks associated with any deviation – including a flood risk or other environmental impact – is detailed. The USACE said in a statement on Wednesday that the Secret Service request 'met the operational criteria outlined in the Water Control Manual for Caesar Creek Lake and did not require a deviation from normal procedures'. Do you have a tip related to this story? You can contact the Guardian via Signal on +1 646 886 8761
Arab News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
JD Vance criticized for getting river level raised as he goes kayaking in Ohio on his birthday
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Vice President JD Vance's security detail had an Ohio river's water level raised last weekend to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took to celebrate his 41st birthday. The US Secret Service said it requested the increased waterflow for the Little Miami River, first reported by The Guardian, to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel 'could operate safely' while protecting the Republican vice president, whose home is in Cincinnati. But critics immediately blasted the action as a sign of the vice president's entitlement, particularly given the Trump administration's focus on slashing government spending. Richard W. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said on X that 'it's outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else.' The Corps of Engineers declined to address any financial impact of raising the river. Spokesman Gene Pawlik said the agency's Louisville District temporarily increased outflows from the Caesar Creek Lake in southwest Ohio into the Little Miami 'to support safe navigation of US Secret Service personnel.' He said the move met operational criteria and fell within normal practice. 'It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels,' he said in a statement. 'Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025.' Vance's birthday was on Aug. 2. Vance spokesman Taylor Van Kirk said the vice president was unaware the river had been raised. 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the Vice President or his staff, as was the case last weekend,' she said via text. The sprawling 2,830-acre Caesar Creek Lake has an unlimited horsepower designation and five launch ramps, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. A marina, campground and lodge are also located on site. The department provided two natural resources officers to assist the Secret Service with the Vance event, spokesperson Karina Cheung said. Special treatment The Vance family has already become accustomed to certain accommodations being made as they move about the world. During a recent trip to Italy, the Roman Colosseum was closed to the public so that his wife, Usha, and their children could take a tour, sparking anger among some tourists. The Taj Mahal also was closed to visitors during the Vance family's visit to India. Such special treatment isn't reserved for one political party. When Democratic Vice President Al Gore, then a presidential candidate, paddled down the Connecticut River for a photo opportunity in 1999, utility officials had opened a dam and released 4 billion gallons of water to raise the river's level. That request, too, came after a review of the area by the Secret Service — and Gore also experienced political pushback. Gore's campaign said at the time that he did not ask for the water to be released.
