Secret Service Scandal Deepens
By: Tracie Potts, NBC News
Updated: April 17, 2012
The fallout continued Tuesday morning from the Secret Service prostitution scandal in Colombia as more details surfaced on which agents were involved in hiring prostitutes.
It was revealed there may have been just as many members of the Military involved as Secret Service personnel.
For now, top security clearance has been revoked for 11 Secret Service agents accused of hiring prostitutes while preparing for President Obama's visit to Colombia last week.
Lawmakers are concerned about a security breach.
"Anybody who's watched a spy movie knows, you know, you go in with the girls, you plant the bugs you compromise the agents. What were these guys thinking?" questioned Homeland Security Committee Member Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX).
First reaction from the pentagon is embarrassment. "We are embarrassed by the incident in Columbia. . . We let the boss down because nobody is talking about what went on in Colombia other than this incident," said the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin E. Dempsey.
"I can assure you that if that investigation determines that there has been a violation, that the individuals involved will be held accountable," said Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
NBC News sources indicate there were two Secret Service Supervisors, three snipers and three members assigned to protect the President's Motorcade - all had his minute-by-minute schedule. "If the prostitutes had access to THAT - they could could have potentially given it to a foreign intelligence service, a drug cartel or even a terrorist group," said NBC News Investigative Correspondent, Michael Isikoff.
Now we're learning not five, but perhaps more than ten members of the Navy, the Army, and the Marines may have been involved. Several Congressional committees may hold hearings to investigate.
It was revealed there may have been just as many members of the Military involved as Secret Service personnel.
For now, top security clearance has been revoked for 11 Secret Service agents accused of hiring prostitutes while preparing for President Obama's visit to Colombia last week.
Lawmakers are concerned about a security breach.
"Anybody who's watched a spy movie knows, you know, you go in with the girls, you plant the bugs you compromise the agents. What were these guys thinking?" questioned Homeland Security Committee Member Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX).
First reaction from the pentagon is embarrassment. "We are embarrassed by the incident in Columbia. . . We let the boss down because nobody is talking about what went on in Colombia other than this incident," said the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin E. Dempsey.
"I can assure you that if that investigation determines that there has been a violation, that the individuals involved will be held accountable," said Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
NBC News sources indicate there were two Secret Service Supervisors, three snipers and three members assigned to protect the President's Motorcade - all had his minute-by-minute schedule. "If the prostitutes had access to THAT - they could could have potentially given it to a foreign intelligence service, a drug cartel or even a terrorist group," said NBC News Investigative Correspondent, Michael Isikoff.
Now we're learning not five, but perhaps more than ten members of the Navy, the Army, and the Marines may have been involved. Several Congressional committees may hold hearings to investigate.
Comments
Leadership effects esprit within any organization; a poor example produces a poor outcomes.
The Secret Service is not directly reportable to the president but they are continuously held to the very highest standard by their own leadership within the umbrella of the administration.
There is no excuse for individual lapses in conduct on the job. There is a great question of the overall environment that fosters the latitude of conduct these decisions and actions represent. Are they held to such a high standard within an administration that is so loose that they individual agents/officers are of the "what heck" mindset?
A C.
April 17, 2012 at 6:28 am
