Secret Service spokesperson said Michael Plati’s retirement was planned before the Trump assassination attempt

The US Secret Service official who oversees protective operations of elected officials, foreign dignitaries and high-profile events is retiring this week – marking the second high-ranking official to leave the agency as it grapples with the aftermath of Donald Trump’s near assassination in July.

Plati, who has served the Secret Service for 27 years, is retiring on his anniversary with the agency, CNN reports. A source close to the situation revealed that Plati had been contemplating retirement for over a year, discussing the decision extensively with his family.

Although Fox initially said Plati was asked to retire by senior leadership, including Rowe, a Secret Service spokesperson denied this in a statement to NewsNation. “This was a personal decision that he has made and we thank him for his 27 years of dedicated service to the federal government,” the spokesperson said. Henning said the same to Fox.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit is requesting all documents and communication between the Secret Service, DHS, and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, related or referring to any potential increase of protective resources to Trump's security detail.

A high-ranking leader within the United States Secret Service (USSS) has been asked to retire, Fox News has learned. Michael Plati, the office of protective operations assistant director, has been asked to retire from his position,