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Saturday, 21 April 2012

Prostitutes Scandal: Three More Agents Quit

Three more US Secret Service agents have resigned following a scandal in Colombia reportedly involving prostitutes.
Earlier this week, three other agents left the agency in connection with alleged misconduct involving prostitutes in Colombia last week that overshadowed President Barack Obama's appearance at the Americas summit.
Two of the three employees who left the agency were supervisors.
The White House said Mr Obama has been briefed by Secret Service director Mark Sullivan on the latest in the scandal, which has damaged the agency's clean-cut, security-conscious image.
A twelfth employee has been implicated in the ongoing investigation into the night of partying at a hotel in the coastal city of Cartagena, the Security Service said.
Eleven agents were initially caught up in the affair, along with at least 21 women who were taken to the hotel.
The Pentagon said 11 military personnel are being investigated.
The alleged misconduct was exposed when one of the women complained that she was not paid enough, resulting in the local police getting involved.
The Secret Service, part of the US Department of Homeland Security, among other duties, is responsible for protecting the president, vice president, former presidents, presidential candidates and their families, and foreign embassies.
White House spokesman Jay Carney repeated on Friday that Mr Obama had faith in the Secret Service.
Mr Obama, who arrived in Cartagena the day after the scandal erupted, also believed that his security was "never compromised" in Colombia, Mr Carney said.
The Secret Service said it was still investigating, "utilising all investigative techniques available to our agency, including polygraph examinations, interviews with the employees involved, and witness interviews".
"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," it added.

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