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| -Lurid Crime Tales- | ||
| Secret Service Agents Forced Out Amid Prostitution Investigation | ||
| 2012-04-19 | ||
| Secret Service agents are being forced out of their positions as officials investigate the alleged hiring of prostitutes and other questionable behavior during a presidential visit to Colombia. "Although the Secret Service's investigation into allegations of misconduct by its employees in Cartagena, Colombia, is in its early stages, and is still ongoing, three of the individuals involved will separate or are in the process of separating from the agency," said Paul S. Morrissey, the assistant director of the U.S. Secret Service Office of Government and Public Affairs, in a written statement. One supervisory employee was allowed to retire and another was "proposed for removal for cause," the statement said. In addition, a non-supervisory employee resigned. Eight other Secret Service employees remain on administrative leave with suspended security clearances. In addition, some Secret Service personnel are now under investigation for possible drug use in Colombia, ABC News confirmed. U.S. inspectors are now on the ground in Colombia canvassing night clubs, interviewing hotel employees and collecting hotel surveillance video. Many of the suspected prostitutes have been identified and will be interviewed, officials told ABC News. Prostitution is legal in Colombia, but officials are concerned about the use of prostitutes by U.S. personnel for ethical and security reasons. "Since these allegations were first reported, the Secret Service has actively pursued this investigation, and has acted to ensure that appropriate disciplinary action is effected," Morrissey said. "We demand that all of our employees adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards and are committed to a full review of this matter." The news of the employee removals comes as Congressional committees are lining up to review the Secret Service's actions and culture that led to the scandal. On Wednesday, the chairman and ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., wrote to Mark J. Sullivan, the director of the U.S. Secret Service, about potential security concerns.
Next week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is expected to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a previously planned oversight hearing. Today, in a statement provided to ABC News, she voiced her support for Secret Service Director Sullivan.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #14 FOXNEWS + FREEREPUBLIC have first Pics of the Babe at issue. Freep Blogger thinks she looks more Brazilian than Columbian??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-04-19 22:42 |
| #13 I don't understand, aren't they just following the Kennedy example? I thought that was absolutely permitted for any one accord to the dems. They should be getting promotions and bonus's, like Holder's gun walkers. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick - Halliburton Lost Drill Bit Division 2012-04-19 19:34 |
| #12 Just proves how dangerous under cover work can really be. Just sayin. |
| Posted by: George Unique7923 2012-04-19 18:19 |
| #11 Here she is. Hat tip to Drudge for this one... |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2012-04-19 16:38 |
| #10 with the Secert Service these are political appointees Since when are special agents political appointees? The job openings are advertised and are competitive. Think about it - given the training and security clearance investigations required before they enter duty, it would be impossible to protect a candidate or newly elected President if they were appointed politically. |
| Posted by: lotp 2012-04-19 16:24 |
| #9 First photo of Femme Fatale who took down the President's Secret Service. (actually, shes hotter than a vcr in a crack house) |
| Posted by: Thurong Chomonter3464 2012-04-19 15:39 |
| #8 I'd have more sympathy for them if they didn't investigate crazy stuff like Ted Nuggent's comments. They should be allowed to triage a bit of common sense into their workload. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2012-04-19 14:36 |
| #7 At least the SS folks don't have a vote in Congress. That could have been a real disaster. |
| Posted by: gorb 2012-04-19 12:55 |
| #6 This kind of ethical collapse always starts at the top of the Chain of Command - with the Secert Service these are political appointees. Also moving the SS to Homeland Security was a boneheaded move and it is startng to show. This is speculation but, too many idiots at DHS may have watered down the Agency's policys and organizational pride. If the investigation bears it all out then the responsible parties need to be dealt with - but dont stop with with just agents and supervisors. Now add in BO and Michelles endless summer and you are stressing the hell out of these people. The number of Agents who protect the POTUS and first family is not that large. Yeah Bush went to Crawford Tx a lot, but the SS already had 90% of the advance work done and the ranch was fairly isolated. BO and the family are total jet setters requiring vast amounts of time, money and energy to properly safeguard. |
| Posted by: RetiredLEO 2012-04-19 09:44 |
| #5 Dear former agents, we anxiously await your Obama administration "Tall All" books. Please write and publish quickly! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-04-19 08:52 |
| #4 Ebbeamp Spawn of the Lutherans is very correct. This could have turned out very, very badly. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-04-19 08:41 |
| #3 They should be happy nobody took advantage of them all being so STUPID. They watch who watches them all drunk and messed up in one place like shooting fish in a barrel or worse. What does it cost in South America to buy off some brothel employees and crooked cops? Some people would get off more by carrying than out then buying some sun baked trout! |
| Posted by: Ebbeamp Spawn of the Lutherans2504 2012-04-19 08:18 |
| #2 Must be NGS. Either that, ot their stupidity, etc. from Penn State has expanded to Columbia. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-04-19 01:25 |
| #1 Let's not be too hard on the Secret Service on all of this. They have been through a HELL of a 5 years here. In all honesty, I may need a line of coke every time POTUS needs to go somewhere - anywhere from the Whitehouse. And yes, he is a DICK. "Lets have a round of golf at 6 different courses this week, take my daughter Sas..*** to ***, Michelle needs to go shopping at ****, I want BO to have his shots.... *Flyonwallism deleted*" |
| Posted by: newc 2012-04-19 00:09 |