Secret Service agent in Vance's team under investigation over alleged leak

A member of US Vice-President JD Vance's security team has been suspended and is under investigation for allegedly leaking sensitive information, the US Secret Service (USSS) has said.

The specifics of what was leaked have not been released, but the Secret Service said their agent faced a 'potential criminal inquiry', involving allegations of 'compromising operational and information security'.

"Any conduct that potentially threatens the safety of a protectee will not be tolerated," Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said.

It comes as agency officials warn of a sharp rise in threats against its protectees, including President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agency was operating in what he described as the most dangerous threat environment of his 24-year career.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner - rescheduled for this Friday after the initial one in April was plunged into mayhem by an alleged assassination attempt - Curran said the threat level facing the Secret Service is "off the charts."

"The environment has become very volatile, and that's just across the board," Curran said. "The threat picture and environment is as large as I've ever seen it."

Agents have opened nearly 10,000 threat investigations since January.

Officials said the increase was being driven by a mix of online threats, lone actors, ideological extremism, foreign adversaries and individuals experiencing mental health crises.