Secret Service agent under investigation for alleged sex assault on Harris aide

The U.S. Secret Service insignia is pictured on a wall at the Secret Service headquarters in Washington.

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating allegations that one of its agents sexually assaulted a female staff member of the office of Vice President Kamala Harris, the agency confirmed Wednesday.

The agent, who was a member of Harris' protective detail, has been placed on administrative leave.

He allegedly forced himself onto the woman and groped her in her hotel room after eating a meal and drinking alcohol with her and several other Harris staffers at a restaurant in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during a visit in the past week to scout possible stops for Harris' presidential campaign, Real Clear Politics reported.

Two law enforcement officials told NBC News that the agent was intoxicated when the alleged groping occurred.

The local Secret Service field office was told about the alleged assault, and the agent's gun and badge were confiscated, one of the officials told NBC.

A Secret Service spokesman told CNBC, "The U.S. Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating a misconduct allegation involving an employee."

"The Secret Service holds its personnel to the highest standards," the spokesman said in an email. "The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation."

Harris' office, in a statement on the report, said "The Office of the Vice President take the safety of staff seriously."

"We have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct. Senior OVP officials were alerted by the USSS about an incident involving an agent and informed that USSS initiated an investigation," Harris' office said. "The Office of the Vice President will not be releasing further information."

Real Clear Politics reported that the agent's actions toward the Harris campaign staffer "were apparently witnessed by other people present."