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U.S. Secret Service Prostitution Scandal


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Secret Service prostitution scandal riles D.C.

 

 

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By JULIE PACE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON DC (AP) - A prostitution scandal involving the Secret Service has grown in scope, with the disclosure that U.S. agents and military personnel had been with at least 20 women in hotel rooms before President Barack Obama arrived in Colombia for a summit with Latin American leaders.

 

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, facing questions on Capitol Hill about whether the escapades could have jeopardized the president's security, said he had referred the matter to an independent government investigator.

 

Sullivan said the 11 Secret Service agents and 10 military personnel under investigation were telling different stories about who the women were. Sullivan has dispatched more investigators to Colombia to interview the women, said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

 

"Some are admitting (the women) were prostitutes, others are saying they're not, they're just women they met at the hotel bar," King said in a telephone interview. Sullivan said none of the women, who had to surrender their IDs at the hotel, were minors. "But prostitutes or not, to be bringing a foreign national back into a secure zone is a problem."

 

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, said Tuesday that "20 or 21 women foreign nationals" were brought to the hotel. Eleven of the Americans involved were Secret Service, she said, and "allegedly Marines were involved with the rest."

 

King said it appeared the agency actually had "really lucked out." If the women were working for a terrorist organization or some other anti-American group, King said, they could have had access to information about the president's whereabouts or security protocols while in the agents' rooms.

 

"This could have been disastrous," King said.

 

The growing scandal has become an election-year embarrassment for Obama, who has said he would be angry if the allegations proved to be true. The White House said Obama had confidence in the Secret Service chief.

 

"Director Sullivan acted quickly in response to this incident and is overseeing an investigation as we speak into the matter," White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

 

Last Thursday, 11 Secret Service agents were recalled to the U.S. from Colombia and placed on administrative leave after a night of partying that allegedly ended with at least some bringing prostitutes back to their hotel. On Monday, the agency announced that it also had revoked the agents' security clearance.

 

At least 10 U.S. military personnel staying at the same hotel were also being investigated for their role in the alleged misconduct.

 

Two U.S. military officials said they include five Army Green Berets. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity about an investigation that is still under way.

 

One of the officials said the group also includes two Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal technicians, two Marine dog handlers and an Air Force airman. The Special Forces Green Berets were working with Colombia's counterterrorist teams, the official said.

 

The agents and servicemen were in Colombia setting up security ahead of Obama's three-day trip to the port city of Cartagena for a summit attended by about 30 other world leaders.

 

People briefed on the incident said the agents brought women back to Cartagena's Hotel Caribe, where other members of the U.S. delegation and the White House corps also were staying. Anyone visiting the hotel overnight was required to leave identification at the front desk and leave the hotel by 7 a.m. When a woman failed to do so, by this account, it raised questions among hotel staff and police, who investigated. They found the woman with the agent in a hotel room and a dispute arose over whether the agent should have paid her.

 

While the identities of those being investigated have not been revealed, Maryland Republican Senate candidate Daniel Bongino told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his brother, an agent who was on duty in Colombia, is "cooperating" with the investigation. Bongino, a former agent himself, insisted his brother was not a target of the investigation.

 

The Secret Service has insisted Obama's security was not undermined by the incident, which happened before he arrived in Colombia.

 

In at least one of his briefings with lawmakers, Sullivan said he was calling on an inspector general to hold an independent review. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, welcomed that news, saying an independent review "should help the agency regain some respect from the American taxpayers and from people around the world."

 

The Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Grassley's account.

 

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/political/secret-service-prostitution-scandal-riles-dc

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Why is this an issue?

 

It shouldn't be anyone's business what these agents do unless it actually affects their job and their duties. There is nothing, apart from the opinion of some Republican senator (who clearly has an agenda) to suggest that this was a security breach at all.

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Why is this an issue?

 

It shouldn't be anyone's business what these agents do unless it actually affects their job and their duties. There is nothing, apart from the opinion of some Republican senator (who clearly has an agenda) to suggest that this was a security breach at all.

 

First off, there's been bipartisan outrage so you couldn't be farther from the truth that this is "only some Republican" with an "agenda." Here's the letter sent by Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Elijah Cummings, D-Md (the Chair and ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform) to Mark J. Sullivan, the director of the U.S. Secret Service today: http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/SS%20letter%20to%20Oversight%20Committee%20on%20misconduct.pdf

 

“Our nation’s capacity to protect the President, the Vice President, and visiting foreign leaders, among others, is dependent on the character and judgment of the agents and officers of the U.S. Secret Service. The actions of at least 11 agents and officers in Colombia last week showed an alarming lack of both.

 

"The incident in Cartagena is troubling because Secret Service agents and officers made a range of bad decisions, from drinking too much, to engaging with prostitutes, to bringing foreign nationals into contact with sensitive security information, to exposing themselves to blackmail and other forms of potential compromise."

 

This IS an issue because the people assigned to protect the president, his family and many of the nation's top leaders flouted rules and engaged in misconduct that could have compromised the safety of our leaders.

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The only person this news pertains to is the president. It is none of our business how some men want to express their sexuality. The only thing people have to criticise this is by saying what could have happened. Who knows the ins and outs of the process and whether or not this was actually dangerous? I can assure you no one on this forum does and the secret service themselves are very confident that this wasn't a security risk to the president. I don't think saying "ohhh but they could have been BLACKMAILED!" is anything other than vague ranting. The fact of the matter is no one except the president and his staff know the reality behind the situation.

 

If this was an issue and Obama feels it is an issue, fire them. Fairly simple. I hate the way we have to hear about things like this - if someone isn't doing their job right just fire them or shut up.

 

Don't kid yourself, the only reason this is so popular on the news right now because the story involves sex. Whenever someone important is caught up in a sex scandal, everyone goes fucking mental. Also, this story involves prostitutes - something that the USA sees as a taboo. Mix sex and prostitution scandals that are involved with important people and you have an inane news story on your hands.

 

The Secret Service probably do a million things that compromise the President's safety to some degree all the time. Hell, Obama was in a pub in Ireland last year and was necking a pint of Guinness. There are a million things that could go wrong in a situation like that - yet we didn't hear politicians and journalists screaming "Some drunk irishman could have BLACKMAILED one of the agents!!!! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BOMBED THE PUB!".

 

I'd actually wager that taking the President out in public where he is surrounded by strangers is far more of a security risk than a few of his special agents banging hookers in their free time when their boss is hundreds of miles away.

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The only person this news pertains to is the president. It is none of our business how some men want to express their sexuality. The only thing people have to criticise this is by saying what could have happened. Who knows the ins and outs of the process and whether or not this was actually dangerous? I can assure you no one on this forum does and the secret service themselves are very confident that this wasn't a security risk to the president. I don't think saying "ohhh but they could have been BLACKMAILED!" is anything other than vague ranting. The fact of the matter is no one except the president and his staff know the reality behind the situation.

 

First off, Secret Service is assigned to other people than the President so no, this pertains to other people than the president (Newt Gingrich for example has Secret Service protection). Their primary job is to protect important figures and their actions showed a lack of responsibility and a lapse of judgement. That these lapses occurred in Colombia, a nation with high levels of violence and a history of kidnappings and assassinations, only underscores the need for a thorough and independent investigation.

 

As the Boston Globe wrote in its staff editorial, "This is not strictly a matter of morality, marital fidelity, or following the law. A president’s personal safety abroad is a matter of national security."

 

If this was an issue and Obama feels it is an issue, fire them. Fairly simple. I hate the way we have to hear about things like this - if someone isn't doing their job right just fire them or shut up.

 

The good news is three people have already been dismissed and I would be shocked if that's all the dismissals. The bipartisan committee is launching an investigation to figure out the full details of what happened and to ensure that this isn't a regular occurrence.

 

Don't kid yourself, the only reason this is so popular on the news right now because the story involves sex. Whenever someone important is caught up in a sex scandal, everyone goes fucking mental. Also, this story involves prostitutes - something that the USA sees as a taboo. Mix sex and prostitution scandals that are involved with important people and you have an inane news story on your hands.

 

Sure, that probably has a lot to do with why this is getting so much attention. But that's not the only reason - it's a big security issue.

 

The Secret Service probably do a million things that compromise the President's safety to some degree all the time. Hell, Obama was in a pub in Ireland last year and was necking a pint of Guinness. There are a million things that could go wrong in a situation like that - yet we didn't hear politicians and journalists screaming "Some drunk irishman could have BLACKMAILED one of the agents!!!! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BOMBED THE PUB!".

 

Not only is this pure speculation, Secret Service follows the President everywhere. At the Irish pub you mentioned? Secret Service was there to accompany the President. I hope you don't think the President randomly decided to visit a pub without going over full security details.

 

I'd actually wager that taking the President out in public where he is surrounded by strangers is far more of a security risk than a few of his special agents banging hookers in their free time when their boss is hundreds of miles away.

 

You do realize that before the President (or any person under Secret Service protection) makes a public appearance, security details ramp up 1000% right? Not only are Secret Service agents situated EVERYWHERE, they scope out the area beforehand to find + eliminate any possible threats.

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Not only is this pure speculation

 

And going mental and claiming some hooker could have blackmailed a secret service agent and end up destroying America's leaders isn't?

 

You do realize that before the President (or any person under Secret Service protection) makes a public appearance, security details ramp up 1000% right? Not only are Secret Service agents situated EVERYWHERE, they scope out the area beforehand to find + eliminate any possible threats.

 

1000%? Heh, no way.

 

Of course the Secret Service follow him around and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they even go as far to have snipers situated around entrance and exit ways into the buildings he goes in and out of. But of course that depends on the local police force in the area he is in and what country he is in. Many places Obama goes would not allow this.

 

But the reality is they can't stop random dangerous strangers. The Secret Service wouldn't even begin to have the amount of man power needed to actually prevent chaotic attacks. All they can do is reduce risk. Obama is around very large groups of people very often who have not been searched, screened or surveyed.

 

Obama in situations like this:

 

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Is at more risk than when he is hundreds of miles away whilst his agents have sex with prostitutes. In that image, it would only take three strong men armed with knives to take Obama down. They'd have a slim to none chance of getting away with it - but you never know. Look at the Reagan assassination attempt. That has just as much chance of happening today.

 

I'm sorry, but I think this whole issue is just a shit storm.

 

I completely agree that this issue should be looked into and some people outta lose their jobs over it because it is a silly thing to do. But most of the reactions towards this has been completely over blown and the majority of the details are details that shouldn't concern any of us. The sad thing is that it appears many of the power US figureheads are more concerned and show more passion over this than some of the hundreds more serious issues inside the country. Oh well.

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And going mental and claiming some hooker could have blackmailed a secret service agent and end up destroying America's leaders isn't?

 

Considering the fact that in a Monday meeting with congressional investigators, the director of Secret Service himself, expressed concern that there was sensitive information in one or more of the rooms at the Hotel Caribe.... then yeah I think there's legitimate concern: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/congressional-oversight-leaders-say-secret-service-agents-brought-prostitutes-into-contact-with-sensitive-security-information/

 

I mean, the coverage of this case in the US is remarkably different than the other sex scandals. The evening news coverage focuses more on the investigations, comedians are making less jokes about it, etc.

 

And the reason is simple: this isn't some Anthony Weiner sending his picture of his weiner to girls on twitter or Eliot Spitzer hiring a call girl. It's not John Edwards having a baby with his mistress or Larry Craig making advances in the men's bathroom.... This is a matter of people failing in their duty to be vigilant at all times and protect our leaders.

 

Plus add the fact that Secret Service is funded by taxpayer money and you can understand why there's only outrage on both sides of the political spectrum.

 

Is at more risk than when he is hundreds of miles away whilst his agents have sex with prostitutes. In that image, it would only take three strong men armed with knives to take Obama down. They'd have a slim to none chance of getting away with it - but you never know. Look at the Reagan assassination attempt. That has just as much chance of happening today.

 

I'm glad you brought up the Reagan assassination attempt because then you would surely know the regulations that were enacted after the incident. Such as the formation of the Magnetometer Support Unit to ensure that all persons entering secure areas occupied by Secret Service protectees are unarmed.

 

Personal experience: Candidate Barack Obama held a rally in the Meadowlands in Feb 2008 and had Secret Service protection. Absolutely no bags were allowed and security thoroughly made sure people going in didn't have a weapon. This is the standard.

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