Key takeaways:

• The State Department is investigating an incident involving a member of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's security detail in Brussels.
• The bodyguard was arrested after exhibiting erratic behavior and becoming aggressive when hotel staff refused his request to reopen a bar after hours.
• Rubio was not present during the incident, which has raised concerns over the conduct of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

The U.S. State Department has confirmed that it is looking into an incident involving a member of Marco Rubio's security team that occurred on March 31 in Brussels, Belgium. This member, a shift supervisor with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), was arrested after he reportedly became aggressive with hotel staff at the Hotel Amigo when they refused to reopen the bar beyond its regular hours. According to sources, the situation escalated, leading to a confrontation with police officers who were summoned to the scene, as detailed by India Times and Newsweek.

Reports indicate that the DSS agent was not only arrested but later released following intervention from the U.S. Embassy. A State Department spokesperson affirmed that “the allegations are being examined,” but emphasized that details regarding personnel matters cannot be disclosed. This incident reportedly resulted from extreme pressures within the DSS, which has led some to speculate that such demands may have contributed to the agent's behavior, as cited by The Hill.

While Rubio was not at the hotel during the incident, he was to stay at the same location later in the week for a NATO foreign ministers meeting. The implications of this altercation have drawn attention to the conduct of the DSS, which is responsible for safeguarding American diplomats and embassies globally, as highlighted in several articles including those from the Brussels Times.

The Brussels prosecutor's office has labeled the arrest as “administrative,” indicating that the specific reasons leading to the arrest were not formally communicated. Investigations by the State Department into this incident are ongoing, amidst concerns about the oversight and conduct of its security apparatus.