Secret Service Agents Relieved Of Duty Following Colombia Misconduct Allegations
By JULIE PACE 04/13/12 11:59 PM ET 
CARTAGENA, Colombia — A dozen Secret Service agents sent to Colombia to provide security for President Barack Obama at an international summit have been relieved of duty because of allegations of misconduct.
A caller who said he had knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the misconduct involved prostitutes in Cartagena, site of the Summit of the Americas. A Secret Service spokesman did not dispute that.
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 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.
Ronald Kessler, a former Post reporter and the author of a book about the Secret Service, told the Post that he had learned that 12 agents were involved, several of them married.
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.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan would not confirm that prostitution was involved, saying only that there had been "allegations of misconduct" made against Secret Service personnel in the Colombian port city hosting Obama and more than 30 world leaders.
Donovan said the allegations of misconduct were related to activity before the president's arrival Friday night.
Obama was attending a leaders' dinner Friday night at Cartagena's historic Spanish fortress. He was due to attend summit meetings with regional leaders Saturday and Sunday.
Those involved had been sent back to their permanent place of duty and were being replaced by other agency personnel, Donovan said. The matter was turned over to the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles the agency's internal affairs.
"These personnel changes will not affect the comprehensive security plan that has been prepared in advance of the president's trip," Donovan said.
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Associated Press writer Frank Bajak contributed to this report
Obama's Dirty Dozen: 12 Secret Service agents sent home from Colombia after encounter with PROSTITUTES
- At least one of the agents is reported to have been found cavorting with Colombian prostitutes
- Several of the 12 men sent home are married
- The misconduct is believed to have occurred before the President's arrival in Colombia for the Summit of Americas
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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2129618/Obamas-Dirty-Dozen-12-Secret-Service-agents-sent-home-Colombia-misconduct-prostitutes.html#ixzz1s0CdHxGk
A dozen Secret Service agents assigned to protect President Barack Obama at an international summit in Colombia have been sent home over allegations that at least one of them was found to be cavorting with prostitutes.
A Secret Service spokesman did not deny the suggestion that the misconduct which led to them agents being relieved of duty involved prostitutes in Cartagena, the site of the Summit of the Americas.
A U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity, put the number of agents at 12.
Barack Obama arrives to Rafael Nunez airport in Cartagena, Colombia, today where 12 of his secret service agents were sent home from for misconduct with prostitutes
Arrival: Mr Obama is met by a Colombian marching band as he disembarks from Air Force One
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.
The association represents federal law enforcement officers, including the Secret Service.
Ronald Kessler, a former Post reporter and the author of a book about the Secret Service, told the Post that he had learned that 12 agents were involved, several of them married.
Although prostitution is legal in parts of Colombia, the Secret Service is said to consider solicitation inappropriate behaviour for its agents.
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.
President Barack Obama (blue shirt) surrounded by Secret Service agents during a visit to the Port of Tampa, Florida on his way to the Summit of the Americas in Colombia earlier today
Security: Police patrol the waters surrounding the convention centre in Cartagena where the Summit is held
It also rounded off an embarrassing week for Obama after Democratic party lobbyist Hilary Rosen's controversial comments about Mitt Romney's wife Anne.
The White House attempted to distance itself from the lesbian who said Mrs Romney 'never worked a day in her life' and had no clue about issues faced by women who work.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan would not confirm that prostitution was involved, saying only that there had been 'allegations of misconduct' made against Secret Service personnel in the Colombian port city hosting Obama and more than 30 world leaders.
Donovan said the allegations of misconduct were related to activity before the president's arrival on Friday night.
Greeting: Mr Obama shakes hands with Colombia's president Juan Manuel Santos at the start of the summit
Obama was attending a leaders' dinner on Friday night at Cartagena's historic Spanish fortress.
He was due to attend summit meetings with regional leaders on Saturday and Sunday.
Those involved had been sent back to their permanent place of duty and were being replaced by other agency personnel, Donovan said.
The matter was turned over to the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles the agency's internal affairs.
'These personnel changes will not affect the comprehensive security plan that has been prepared in advance of the president's trip,' Donovan said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2129618/Obamas-Dirty-Dozen-12-Secret-Service-agents-sent-home-Colombia-misconduct-prostitutes.html#ixzz1s0CvnJ5z
