Fired CDC guard who was near Obama searches for answers

A security guard fired after President Obama visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sharing his story.

Kenneth Tate was armed when he rode an elevator with the President in September and the Secret Service said he was never authorized to be there, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

An employee with the firm Professional Security Corporation, Tate worked as a security guard at the CDC for 11 years, where he escorted the agency's commissioner and visiting dignitaries.

He said he was just following orders when he escorted the president, who was visiting on September 16 to address the growing Ebola epidemic, and that he was unjustly fired for doing his job.

He unknowingly violated Secret Service protocol by carrying his CDC-issued .40 caliber handgun into an elevator.

"When the president enters the elevator he asked my name and he extended his hand to shake my hand," Tate said. "Everything is fine and I'm waiting on the rest of everyone to get on to proceed up to the twelve floor."

As Obama was leaving the CDC, Tate took photos of the motorcade with his cell phone. Agents reprimanded him and made him delete the photos.

His supervisors were angry, questioned him and pulled his CDC badge. One week later, he was fired without explanation.

"He was authorized and even appointed to be on the elevator with the president that day," Tate's attorney Christopher Chestnut said.

Chestnut believes his client is a victim of circumstances.

"We need this security company to answer for firing him," he said. "You can't terminate someone for not doing anything wrong, and he didn't do anything wrong."

CBS News reached out to Professional Security Corporation, the CDC and the Secret Service. No one provided a comment.

The fact that Tate was armed while so close to the president wasn't revealed for two weeks.

On September 30, a congressional committee questioned Secret Service Director Julia Pearson about other security gaffes including the most recent White House fence jumper.

She failed to mention the CDC incident and never told the White House about it.

Tate is also angry initial published reports indicated he was a convicted felon. He said he has no criminal convictions.

"I always try to do the right thing and I know this is not right what's been happening to me, and it has to be rectified," he said.

Tate said he still hasn't been given an explanation why he was fired and could pursue a wrongful termination and defamation suit against his former employer.