BIAS

Secret Service to Pay $24M to Settle Race Bias Case

More than 100 black agents had sued over alleged discrimination.

The Secret Service has agreed to pay more than $24 million in a lawsuit brought by more than 100 black agents who alleged racial bias. The lawsuit, which focused on the treatment of black agents from 1995 to 2005, alleged that the Secret Service routinely gave promotions to less qualified white agents and discriminated against black candidates, fostering an atmosphere of racial bias. The plaintiffs in the case will now receive compensation, with the eight original plaintiffs getting sums of as much as $300,000 each. The deal will not require the Secret Service to admit to wrongdoing. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who was involved in the negotiations for the case, said in a statement Tuesday night that the settlement was “simply the right thing to do.” “I am pleased that we are able to finally put this chapter of Secret Service history behind us,” Johnson said.