Barack Obama's bodyguards sent home from Colombia summit amid prostitution alleg

[apples]

Barack Obama's bodyguards sent home from Colombia summit amid prostitution allegations

                        Reports suggested that the misconduct involved prostitutes in Cartagena, site of the Summit of the Americas. A Secret Service spokesman did not dispute that.

A US official said 12 officials were sent home. 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 said the agents arrived at the beachfront hotel about a week ago, and claimed they were 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.

The Washington Post reported that Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said the accusations related to at least one agent having involvement with prostitutes in Cartagena. The association represents federal law enforcement officers, including the Secret Service.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9204309/Barack-Obamas-bodyguards-sent-home-from-Colombia-summit-amid-prostitution-allegations.html

U.S. Secret Service agents leave Colombia over prostitution inquiry

   The U.S. Secret Service is investigating allegations of misconduct by agents who had been sent to Cartagena, Colombia, to provide security for President Obama’s trip to a summit that began there Friday.

Edwin Donovan, an agency spokesman, said that an unspecified number of agents have been recalled and replaced with others, stressing that Obama’s security has not been compromised because of the change. Obama arrived in Cartagena on Friday afternoon for this weekend’s Summit of the Americas, a gathering of 33 of the hemisphere’s 35 leaders to discuss economic policy and trade.

Donovan declined to disclose details about the nature of the alleged misconduct. But Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said the accusations relate to at least one agent having involvement with prostitutes in Cartagena.

In a statement, Donovan said the matter has been turned over to the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, which serves as the agency’s internal affairs unit.

“The Secret Service takes all allegations of misconduct seriously,” Donovan said. “These personnel changes will not affect the comprehensive security plan that has been prepared in advance of the President’s trip.”

Adler said the entire unit was recalled for purposes of the investigation. The Secret Service “responded appropriately” and is “looking at a very serious allegation,” he said, adding that the agency “needs to properly investigate and fairly ascertain the merits of the allegations.”           

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-secret-service-agents-recalled-from-colombia/2012/04/13/gIQAEdW9FT_story.html

[apples]

Secret Service agents busted because they refused to pay hooker: source

The dozen Secret Service agents sent home after a prostitution scandal in Colombia were busted after at least one of them refused to pay a hooker, sources said.

The scandal — a black eye for the United States’ reputation abroad — was revealed Friday before President Obama arrived in Cartagena for the Summit of the Americas.

The 12 agents were part of an advance team meant to secure a local hotel before the summit began — yet their attention apparently turned to taking advantage of Colombia’s policy of legal prostitution.

“They had arranged to have a bunch of prostitutes come by and one of the agents refused to pay a prostitute,” said author Ronald Kessler, one of the leading experts on the Secret Service. “Yes, doubly good judgement there.”

Kessler, who was briefed on the investigation by his sources within the agency, told the Daily News Saturday that the spurned hooker went to the police to report the lack of payment.

The local authorities then notified the U.S. officials, who immediately recalled the 12 agents back to Washington.

“Their careers are over,” said Kessler.

“Number one, it is against basic ethics to go to a prostitute,” he continued. “Number two, it is incredibly embarrassing to the White House.”

“And number three,” he continued. “It could leave them open to blackmail and a possible assassination attempt.”

Kessler said two of the agents were supervisors who attempted to cover up the mortifying incident.

A former Secret Service member told The New York Times that only one one agent tried to purchase the services of a hooker — but the whole team was recalled as part of the investigation.

                     

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/secret-service-agents-busted-refused-pay-hooker-source-article-1.1061657

WOW! I can remember all those times this happened in the Bush regime........../s

[apples]

  Secret Service agents relieved of duty over misconduct allegations            

  (CBS/AP) - Secret Service agents that were sent to Colombia to provide security for President Barack Obama at an international summit have been relieved of duty because of allegations of misconduct, an agency spokesman told CBS News.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan provided this e-mail statement to CBS News late Friday night: "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."

A U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity, told the Associated Press t                    

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57414020/secret-service-agents-relieved-of-duty-over-misconduct-allegations/

Just a question here. After all the years of the Secret Service going to foreign country's I have to think they would know better than to get caught up in something like this? Yet some forien country's are worse than others.  This is the personnel protection for the President. If all is true this is huge no?  He cannot even have his own personnel body guards out of scandal.  Now I know much is kept from us on the conduct of the Secret Service and it should be, yet this for me is huge. Your thoughts?

[apples]

               Secret Service Misconduct Is Alleged

    Ronald Kessler, a Washington-based author who wrote a book about the Secret Service, said he was told that the incident involved 12 agents, including one or two supervisors, some of them married. He said he was told by people with direct knowledge of the events, but those facts were not confirmed by the Secret Service.

He said it was dangerous because it subjected the agents to potential blackmail from someone who might have learned their positions. "It's the biggest scandal in Secret Service history," he said.

Mr. Kessler, a former Washington Post reporter, is the author of, "In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect," a book that describes a culture of corner-cutting and laxness within the agency.           

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304356604577342641172505430.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

AMAZING isn't it? Now the Secret Service has been tarnished. EVERYTHING ourdearreader touches he ruins.

[apples]

Hotel dispute started confrontation that sent home Secret Service agents for misconduct involving prostitution

       Cartagena, COLOMBIA - A dispute in a hotel about paying for an extra "guest," possibly a prostitute, started a confrontation that ultimately led to sending home at least a dozen Secret Service agents covering detail of President Obama's trip in Colombia, a senior law enforcement official tells Fox News' Ed Henry.

New details are emerging about the incident at the Hotel Caribe, where the Secret Service advance team was staying ahead of Obama's three-day visit to the country.

A senior law enforcement official said the dispute started when hotel employees witnessed inappropriate behavior.

An employee approached at least one Secret Service agent and demanding that he pay extra money for having an additional overnight guest in his room.

The agent balked, which eventually resulted in a confrontation and forced diplomatic intervention.

The official said the guest involved apparently was a prostitute. It remains unclear whether more agents and more prostitutes were involved.

A hotel employee told the Associated Press the agents were drinking heavily during their stay.

The senior law enforcement official stressed the matter is under investigation and officials are still trying to corroborate initial details.

The hotel tells Fox News they will not be commenting on the matter.

A new Secret Service crew was immediately rushed to Colombia to cover the agents who had been sent home.

What makes the case unusual is the large number involved. In previous incidents involving agents on a trip, typically only one or two personnel have been involved.                   

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2012/04/14/hotel-dispute-started-confrontation-sent-home-secret-service-agents-misconduct-involving-

It is going to be interesting in the next few days to see how this story evolves.  Yet reading that his personnel guards are drinking and having a good ol' time is truly disconcerting.  I thought the advanced team would stake out the areas in one place for days to ensure his safety?  I guess not this time?

[GeronL]

the fish rots from the head

[JohnBrowdie]

a hotel employee said this, a hotel employee said that, a hotel employee said the other.  it's probably the same damn hotel employee.

personally, I'm not buying it.  secret service guys are definitely alpha males, but they are ultra professionals.

[JohnBrowdie]

ok, I was wrong.  this is definitely a mess.  interesting snippet from another story:

Prostitution is legal in designated areas of Colombia.

More

I wonder what a designated area looks like.

a hotel employee said this, a hotel employee said that, a hotel employee said the other.  it's probably the same damn hotel employee.

personally, I'm not buying it.  secret service guys are definitely alpha males, but they are ultra professionals.

[apples]

King: 'Close to' all 11 agents had women, presumed to be prostitutes, in rooms

CARTAGENA, Colombia — A U.S. lawmaker says a "significant number" of Secret Service agents involved in an alleged prostitution scandal at an international summit brought women back to their hotel rooms before President Barack Obama arrived in Colombia.

U.S. Rep. Peter King, who was briefed Saturday on the investigation, tells The Associated Press that "close to" all 11 of the agents involved had women in the rooms at their hotel, which was separate from the one where Obama is now staying.

The New York Republican says the women were "presumed to be prostitutes," but investigators are interviewing the agents. King heads the House Homeland Security Committee.

SNIP

CNN reported Sunday that the number of Secret Service members is "in the ballpark" of 12, according to two government sources, but they're not all agents. The individuals involved are a mix of agents and Secret Service police, but they're not part of President Obama's security detail. Instead, they're part of the broader security team.

Kessler told CNN that all 12 Secret Service members are accused of involvement in the incident "in one degree or another," from allegedly interfering in the investigation to participating in other alleged misconduct. Kessler also called the situation "clearly the biggest scandal in Secret Service history."               

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/secret_service_agents_sent_home_BsIeAbzDwdbQrx2xGv5SmO

so if  I am to believe this , it is a full on party atmosphere with  some of the personnel guards for the President of the United States last week before his arrival in Columbia.That alone is disconcerting.  how many are in the forward detail for the Pres. ?  Tin foil hats are in hover mode for many on this one.

[apples]

5 service members confined in misconduct probe

       CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) -- 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 th                 

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AMERICAS_SUMMIT_US_MILITARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-14-17-11-20

[apples]

Secret Service scandal widens to US military

   Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told the AP after he was briefed on the investigation on Saturday that "close to" all 11 of the agents involved had brought women back to their rooms at a hotel separate from where Obama is now staying.

The New York Republican said the women were "presumed to be prostitutes" but investigators were interviewing the agents.

The lawmaker also offered new details about the controversy.

King said he was told that 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, it raised questions among hotel staff and police, who investigated. They found the woman with the agent in the hotel room and a dispute arose over whether the agent should have paid her.

King said he was told that the agent did eventually pay the woman.

Carney said the president was told of the incident involving the Secret Service on Friday. The spokesman refused to offer Obama's reaction.

The White House spokesman said the incident was not distracting Obama from his work, suggesting it was more of a matter of consuming interest to the media.

As for the apparent misconduct by the military members, Gen. Douglas Fraser, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said he was "disappointed by the entire incident" and said the behavior was "not in keeping with the professional standards expected of members of the United States military."

Col. Scott Malcom, chief of public affairs for Southern Command, said of the five service members: "The only misconduct I can confirm is that they were violating the curfew established. He said he had seen the news reports about the Secret Service agents involved in alleged prostitution at the hotel but could not confirm whether the service members also were involved.

The military is investigating.

Initial reports said 12 Secret Service agents were involved, while King put the number at 11.

"The president does have full confidence in the United States Secret Service," Carney told reporters when asked about such a vote of confidence.

The alleged activities took place before Obama arrived Friday in this Colombian port city for meetings with 33 other regional leaders.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the agents involved were relieved from duty and replaced with other agency personnel.

"These personnel changes will not affect the comprehensive security plan that has been prepared in advance of the president's trip," Donovan said.

The agency was continuing to investigate the matter Saturday, but had no additional comment.

The agents at the center of the allegations had stayed at Cartagena's five-star Hotel Caribe. Several members of the White House staff and press corps subsequently stayed at the hotel.

King credited the Secret Service director for acting quickly to remove the agents in question and replace them before Obama's arrival.

The incident was reported to the U.S. embassy, prompting further investigation, King said.

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

Three waiters interviewed by the AP at the hotel described the agents as drinking heavily during their stay.

On Friday, the hotel began filling up with the delegations of some of the more than 30 countries whose leaders are convening for the weekend Summit of the Americas.                   

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Secret-Service-scandal-widens-to-US-military-3481449.php

Some more info.

[apples]

Members of elite Secret Service unit among those suspended in Colombia

Two Secret Service supervisors and three members of the agency's elite Counter-Assault Teams were among the 11 agents sent back from Colombia and placed on administrative leave over allegations that they brought prostitutes to their hotel rooms in Cartagena, law enforcement officials tell NBC News.

The involvement of Counter-Assault Team (CAT) members-- who are not members of the Uniformed Division, but full-fledged Secret Service agents -- ratchets up the seriousness of the incident, officials said.  The heavily armed agents play a key role in protecting the president, serving as part of any presidential motorcade, usually a few cars back from the president's. Their responsibility is to "neutralize" any attack "as quickly as possible," according to the Secret Service website.
"Their job is to fend off a heavy assault on the motorcade to give POTUS a chance to flee to a safe locale," one law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told NBC News, speaking on condition of anonymity.

http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/16/11228347-members-of-elite-secret-service-unit-among-those-suspended-in-colombia?lite

[apples]

20 US agents could be involved in Colombian hooker woe

   The Secret Service’s seamy hooker scandal may have involved as many as 20 elite US agents — who are specifically trained to avoid such security-breach pitfalls, officials and sources said yesterday.

“Historically, we’ve heard about these ‘wheels-up’ parties when the president leaves — well, this was ‘pre-wheels down,’ ” said furious House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).

He vowed to have his committee probe the alleged Cartagena bacchanal that involved the agents dallying with prostitutes while in Colombia at the 33-nation Summit of the Americas, which President Obama attended.

“The investigation will not be about the 11 to 20 or more involved. It will be about how did this happen and how often has this happened before,” Issa angrily told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

HILLARY CLINTON KNOCKS BACK BREW AS SCANDAL ROCKS SUMMIT

So far, 11 agents have been suspended with pay for the reported debauchery at the Hotel Caribe in the Caribbean resort town. The shenanigans came to light after one of the agents allegedly refused to pay his hooker as little as $47 for their romp — prompting a call to local cops.

The 11 agents were recalled to DC on Thursday, and a replacement team was sent in from Puerto Rico and Florida before the president arrived Friday.

“If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, then of course, I’ll be angry,” Obama said before returning home from the summit yesterday.

“We’re here on behalf of our people, and that means we conduct ourselves with the utmost dignity and probity, and obviously what has been reported doesn’t match up with those standards,” the president said.

Secret Service regulations do not bar its agents and uniformed officers from drinking or patronizing prostitutes — because the agency assumed it wouldn’t need to spell out such a rule, one source said.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/serviced_men_scandal_grows_2T1mCesDYYJAKVhkhNDObJ#ixzz1sEsVbKN5

                 

CNN reporting 11 have lost their security clearance.

[apples]

Secret Service clearances yanked in Colombia probe

Washington (CNN) -- Eleven Secret Service members have had their security clearances yanked during an investigation into allegations that they brought prostitutes to a Colombian hotel before a presidential visit to the country, government officials with knowledge of the investigation said Monday.

The agents and officers involved range in experience from relative newcomers to nearly 20-year veterans, and all have been interviewed at least once, two government officials with knowledge of the probe told CNN. Their security clearances could be reinstated if they are cleared, the officials said.

The Secret Service members and at least five U.S. military personnel are accused of bringing several prostitutes to their Cartagena hotel ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to the Summit of the Americas over the weekend. Speaking at the end of the summit on Sunday, Obama called for a "thorough" and "rigorous" investigation into the allegations.

The Pentagon said Monday that more service members than initially believed were involved in misconduct. And Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the incident distracted attention "from what was a very important regional engagement for our president."

"So we let the boss down," Dempsey said. He said he and other military leaders "were embarrassed by what occurred in Colombia, though we are not sure exactly what it is."

Pentagon spokesman George Little could not say how many more military personnel might be involved. But he indicated the personnel might come from more than one branch of the military. Pentagon officials had originally thought only Army personnel were involved.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/16/us/secret-service-colombia/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[jafo2010]

This story stinks!

I think it is more plausible that there was an attempted coup that failed than Secret Service elite crawling in bed with a gross of local prostitutes. 

As Brit Hume has just said, "we don't know what really happened".   So in not knowing what really happened, how about going outside the borders of what you are being told and think of the possibilities.

How about some in the media questioning if what is said has ANY shred of truth to it and that there isn't a coverup of the real events.