APNewsBreak: Secret Service agents sent home from summit amid allegations of misconduct

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

APNewsBreak: Secret Service agents sent home from summit amid allegations of misconduct
Article by: JULIE PACE , Associated Press
Updated: April 13, 2012 - 8:58 PM

CARTAGENA, Colombia - A dozen Secret Service agents with President Barack Obama at an international summit have been relieved of duty because of allegations of misconduct.

The Associated Press received an anonymous tip that the misconduct involved prostitutes in Cartagena, Colombia, the site of the Summit of the Americas. A Secret Service spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the allegation.

A U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity, put the number of agents at 12. The agency was not releasing the number of personnel involved.

The incident threatened to overshadow Obama's economic and trade agenda at the summit and embarrass the U.S. The White House had no comment.


Read more: http://www.startribune.com/world/147401825.html

[hlthe2b]

1. well, if there are any "freeper" types among SS agents....

I hope it was them.

Geebus. Time to do a house cleaning.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. I wonder what %of the SS detail that is?

[edgineered]

3. The risks of being an agent provocateur include discovery. nt

[teddy51]

4. I certainly hope they are sending in replacements prior to their departure! Shit happens. n/t

[Grassy Knoll]

5. Maybe.....

1) The Associated Press received an anonymous tip...
2) A U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity....
3) allegations of misconduct ....

[Proletariatprincess]

6. I suspect that this summit will not be a happy one for the USA.

This SS embarrassment is only the beginning. The USA will look foolish and out of touch on the issue s of the Drug War and Immigration both of which will be addressed at this summit.
The USA doesn't recognize how much it's prestige and influence has waned in the last decade. This summit is sure to demonstrate those facts yet again.

[cal04]

7. Secret Service spokesman Edwin M. Donovan's statement to TPM:

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/report-12-secret-service-agents-accused-of-misconduct

(snip)
There have been allegations of misconduct made against Secret Service personnel in Cartagena, Colombia prior to the President’s trip. Because of this, those personnel are being relieved of their assignments, returned to their place of duty, and are being replaced by other Secret Service personnel. The Secret Service takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. This entire matter has been turned over to our Office of Professional Responsibility, which serves as the agency’s internal affairs component.

These personnel changes will not affect the comprehensive security plan that has been prepared in advance of the President’s trip.

[Tx4obama]

8. Wonder if the SS guy is a Republican? And might be only ONE or TWO

Apparently ALL 12 in the unit were pulled off duty - but no one has said that all were involved

Ed Henry ? @edhenryTV

told by senior official at least 1 Secret Service agent alleged to be involved w/prostitute in Colombia, serious enough diplomats called in

https://twitter.com/#!/edhenryTV

See here for more info : http://www.mediaite.com/online/12-obama-secret-service-agents-relieved-of-duty-over-alleged-misconduct-in-columbia/

[jwirr]

9. "The Ugly American"

[dmr]

10. Hearing stuff like this worries me, because I worry for the safety of my President

If an agent is in a compromising situation, it opens him up to extortion or blackmail by anyone who doesn't want Obama to have a second term.

There is so much freaking irrational hatred out there it's scarey.

I wish I hadn't read this because now I'll worry more.

[FarLeftFist]

11. See! Even the Secret Service supports working women!

[aquart]

12. WTF?

[truthisfreedom]

13. I hope this story has no legs.

[dipsydoodle]

16. It was between some legs from the sound of things

.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Do you care to repeat that?

[center] [/center]

[dipsydoodle]

18. Well the article does make clear

what they were up to. Doesn't it ?

[jberryhill]

14. That's like being sent home from Italy for eating pasta

[Tx4obama]

15. * * * * * Additional Information * * * * *

<SNIP>

The agents were staying at Cartagena's Hotel Caribe, which is also hosting members of the White House staff and press corps during the summit

A hotel employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job, said the agents arrived at the beachfront hotel about a week ago. The employee described the agents as drinking heavily during their stay.

The employee said the agents left the hotel Thursday, a day before Obama and other regional leaders arrived for the weekend summit.

<SNIP>

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_AMERICAS_SUMMIT_SECRET_SERVICE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-14-02-26-27

[Texano78704]

20. "Agents drinking heavily"

It's a pretty easy thing to do in Cartagena.

[47of74]

19. SIGH

slash UGH

[Judi Lynn]

21. Secret Service Officers Sent Home Were Not Tasked With Guarding President Obama

Apr 14, 2012 10:49am
Secret Service Officers Sent Home Were Not Tasked With Guarding President Obama

ABC News’ Reena Ninan reports:

The Secret Service has removed several officers amid allegations of misconduct involving prostitution. An American official who is not authorized to speak about the incident tells ABC News the officers were not agents tasked with guarding President Obama.

The incident may have only involved one or two individuals, the American official said. It’s likely an entire unit was pulled while an investigation is underway. The officers were sent home and a new unit was brought in to replace them.

In a statement released by the Secret Service Friday night Spokesman Ed Donovan, a Special Agent said, “The Secret Service takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. This entire matter has been turned over to our Office of Professional Responsibility, which serves as the agency’s internal affairs component.”

~snip~
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/secret-service-officers-sent-home-were-not-tasked-with-guarding-president-obama/

[Judi Lynn]

22. Military confines 5 service members to quarters in misconduct probe involving Secret Service

Military confines 5 service members to quarters in misconduct probe involving Secret Service
By Associated Press, Updated: Saturday, April 14, 4:12 PM

CARTAGENA, Colombia — The U.S. military says five service members supporting the Secret Service in advance of President Barack Obama’s visit may have been involved in inappropriate conduct and have been confined to quarters. Obama is in Colombia for a Summit of the Americas.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the incident with the military personnel stems from the same episode involving about a dozen members of the Secret Service who were called back to the U.S. for an investigation into possible misconduct.

Carney referred questions about the episode, which includes allegations that U.S. personnel procured prostitutes, to the Secret Service and to the military.

Carney said the president retains confidence in the Secret Service and said the incidents under investigation, which preceded Obama’s arrival, had no impact of presidential security.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/military-confines-5-service-members-to-quarters-in-misconduct-probe-involving-secret-service/2012/04/14/gIQAZ2IpHT_story.html

[Beacool]

23. Now there are also some military personnel involved too.

Apparently the trouble started when one of the men's "guest" did not leave in the morning. Hotel people knocked on the door, but they weren't let into the room. The hotel called the police. The woman told the police that she didn't want to leave because the SS agent refused to pay her for her services. So, not only do these dopes lack judgment, they also didn't want to pay the woman her wages.

Down right stupid.

[EFerrari]

26. How can anyone that naive or stupid be on that detail. nt

[rayofreason]

24. Thinking with the little head. n/t

[Beacool]

27. That has always been a problem.

When guys think with their little head it blocks the flow of oxygen to the big head and clouds their judgment. How many sexual scandals have there been of male public figures in the past?

Why do so many men risk their reputation, family and jobs for a roll in the hay? These men may not be public people, but they are supposed to be the best in their field. It still didn't stop them from committing a great professional blunder.

When was the last public woman caught in a sexual scandal? I mean women of substance who are not in the entertainment field. Can anyone imagine an Angela Merkel, Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi risking everything for an affair or a one night stand? Let alone for a night with a male prostitute?????

Crazy.......

[BlueIris]

25. I am so creeped out by this. Why would this story

get publicized at all?

[Judi Lynn]

28. So these men can nearly wreck the chances of the President's participation in the summit,

put his presence there in a horrible light, handicap what could go right, and no one will know, other than those who attended?

Is that your idea of a good way to handle the story? Keep the U.S. citizens in the dark about how much respect the SS men hired to protect the President have shown for their responsibility?

Selective news? We already have that.

[Judi Lynn]

29. Darrel Issa's the "brave" Republican trying to make a profit from this politically:

Secret Service sex scandal could go deeper: congressman
Updated April 16, 2012 06:43:52

A United States congressman says more agents could be involved in a Secret Service sex scandal which has overshadowed president Barack Obama's trip to a pan-American summit in Colombia.

The Secret Service has placed 11 personnel on administrative leave as it investigates claims the men brought prostitutes to their hotel rooms in Cartagena, Colombia late on Wednesday, and had a dispute over payment with one of the women the next morning.

The scandal, which has overshadowed the Summit of the Americas gathering of regional leaders, also involves five US military personnel staying at the same hotel who have now been taken off duty and confined to their barracks amid a separate investigation.

More:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-16/obama-secret-service-sex-scandal/3951626?section=world

One fact finally surfaces near the end of the article:

None of the Secret Service personnel involved - both agents and uniformed officers - was assigned to Mr Obama's personal security detail.

[Judi Lynn]

30. Can anyone guess who the Republicans are in this picture behind Issa?

US Congress to investigate Secret Service sex scandal .
Sunday, 15 April 2012 14:20 Adriaan Alsema



The U.S. Congress will investigate alleged misconduct by Secret Service personnel while in the Colombian city of Cartagena ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to the country.

According to Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif), the House of Representatives' investigate panel will be "looking over the shoulder" of the Secret Service to make sure that the agency’s method for training and screening agents isn’t endangering the nation’s VIPs, he told television network CBS' Face the Nation.

"Things like this don’t happen once if they didn’t happen before," said Issa, who leads the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, implying that more Secret Service officials may have been involved in inappropriate behavior in previous foreign visits.

Eleven Secret Service employees are on administrative leave for misconduct and five service members assigned to work with the agency are confined to quarters amid allegations about hat a group of personnel partied with local prostitutes prior to Obama’s arrival in Colombia for the weekend summit with Latin American leaders.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/23431-us-congress-to-investigate-secret-service-sex-scandal.html

I think they should consider a painting in it with Republicans from the remote future, with the exception of Abraham Lincoln. This is wildly sad. Where's Joe McCarthy? Duke Cunningham? Etc.

By the way, they shouldn't show Abraham Lincoln as they actually stand opposite his position on states' right.

[Judi Lynn]

31. Obama wants Secret Service probe

Obama wants Secret Service probe
Posted: 16 April 2012 0640 hrs

CARTAGENA, Colombia: US President Barack Obama said Sunday he expected a "rigorous" probe into a sex scandal involving Secret Service agents, warning he would be "angry" if the allegations were true.

The incident -- which saw 11 Secret Service and five military personnel pulled from their duties in Cartagena, Colombia at the Summit of the Americas -- overshadowed the talks attended by Obama and other regional leaders.

The US Secret Service, which has sent the men back to the United States, is investigating claims they brought prostitutes to their hotel rooms in Cartagena late Wednesday and had a dispute over payment with one of the women.

"I expect the investigation to be thorough and rigorous," Obama said at a press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at the end of the summit.

More:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1195455/1/.html