The Secret Service scandal that erupted in April 2012 severely tarnished the image of one of most respected agencies in the United States government. When we think of Secret Service agents, we picture stone-faced men in sharp suits, forming a perimeter around the U.S. president. Yet the Secret Service operated for decades before it began protecting the president, and its current responsibilities go far beyond presidential security, and even extend into other countries. Here are five surprising facts about the United States Secret Service.
