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Updated at 11 p.m. ET: A dozen Secret Service personnel providing security for President Barack Obama at an international summit in Cartagena, Colombia, have been relieved of duty because of allegations of misconduct.
The Associated Press said it received an anonymous tip that the misconduct involved prostitutes in Cartagena, site of the Summit of the Americas. A Secret Service spokesman did not dispute the allegation.
The Washington Post reported that Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, told the newspaper the accusations relate to at least one officer having involvement with prostitutes in Cartagena.
A U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity, put the number of personnel at 12, the AP reported.
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Adler told the Post that the entire unit was recalled for the investigation. He later told the AP he had no specific knowledge of any wrongdoing.
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.
“The Secret Service takes all allegations of misconduct seriously,” Donovan told the Post.
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Donovan said the allegations of misconduct were related to activity before the president's arrival on Friday night.
Obama was attending a leaders' dinner Friday night at Cartagena's historic Spanish fortress.
The personnel involved had been sent back to their permanent place of duty and were being replaced by other agency officers, 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.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
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Should have sent Clinton with the boys he knows his way out of things like this, and as far as Obama goes what the hell is he down there for another trip before his ass gets booted
These guys are supposed to be the cleanest of the clean the ones who take the bullet. I guess they were taking bullets for someone else and not the President. All of these agents should be fired for what they did. They are with the President to protect the President not to go out and have fun on the taxes payers time and the President's time. The President should fire all of them.
Ernie Ernie your quote
They are with the President to protect the President not to go out and have fun on the taxes payers time and the President's time. The President is out doing nothing on taxpayers MONEY as always
Sorry, but if I have a job where I could die at any moment... I'm gettin some.
For all you people who for instance excuse your parties misconduct by pointing out misconduct in the other political party--Do you raise your children that way? If so please post your address so we can drive around your psychos address.I have never heard so much immaturity in arguments that i see nowadays.You wouldn't (or at least shouldn't tell your kid)--Its ok johnny to shoplift--your brother,cousin or marjories our next door neighbors son does it all the time)---If that is wrong--Why do you think that its ok in politics to excuse your parties bad behavior by pointing to the other parties behavior?Just a phenomena that i think is interesting is all
most of you all need to get off your high horse. heck boys will be boys. ley it go.
First they are working women who make a living and support their families the only way they can, better then robbing people. On the 4 Dutch islands, yes DUTCH were they hold the human rights trials you can find these girls working in legal brothels as virtual sex slaves, maybe 1500 at any given time. But hey thats ok. I respect everyone of these women for working and if the secret service decided to support them and their families by giving them business I say BRAVO. Maybe that $30 or $40 paid for medicine or food that saved a kids life. While all the fat cats eat weel, drink well and lavishly these women are trying to buy some rice and pay for a shabby roof over their head. Someday people will remember that Jesus decided to help one not throw the rock, but now we throw the rocks. What a stupid society.
more like "relieved while on duty"
Who - except the feminist and the effeminate, the nation's sexual scum-suckers - cares?!
I think this secret service fiasco is a reflection of obama, absolutely no respect for the man!!!! So these men went partying.
If they were hookers, at least the agents were paying for it. obama has been screwing America just for grins for over 3 years.
Organized Crime runs the prostitutes in Colombia, this should be viewed as a deep penatration into the security that protects the POTUS. This does not bode well for the current President, these secret service men. Are only going to reflect and act as they feel permitted to.
If the Commander in Chief, only commands that amount of respect from his own security detail. Heaven help us.
Down south its alot different than in the USA
1. Women are licensed to work and have to be screened.
2. The women are not a by the hour hooker type like in the USA where its all business, they tend to hang out and party with the client.
Not saying they should be doing that on the job but its more accepted in that part of the world.
Doesn't the Secret Service have a Constitutional right to be happy?
As long as they weren't on the clock who cares what they do in their time off.
Hey ernie1 maybe the had vesectomies and are shooting blanks you righteous idiot
good stuff, give em a raise. all branches of this administration are laughable.
Wonder how many of the wives have 9 irons??
I see the Obama haters are on here. I feel sorry for them because no matter what they post Obama is still going to win reelection.
Now that is some funny crap
Why do you think it is funny? Even FOX polls show Obama beating Romney by 4 points.
They thought they were sent there to engage in economic trade!
Is Michelle O. in Washington this weekend ??? -
maybe the Secret Service guys will fix Obama up with a little on the side.........
Whether the secret service is banging Colombian prostitutes or not, it doesn't change the fact that Obama is completely incompetent.
I am always amazed at the reaction to "alleged" conduct. There is probably enough evidence to send them home but many of the posters here have already found them guilty without knowing the actual facts.
Kinda like the Trayvon case, HUH?
Must be Bush's fault. Romney paid 30 times what Obama paid in taxes. He gave 3 million to charity. Cheapskate Joe Bit@me gave 5 thousand. He should be embarrassed to report that. I see Bit@me at Phillie games. He gets his ticket for free and eats free food like a horse. This administration is a disgrace.
Even the Secret Service has no respect for him. I can't blame them.
What is the real deal pickle? Well, apparently (no matter which political affiliation)) I guess our world status as "do as we say and not as we do", still rings true for any administration.
Obama's secret service is coming to town ....
Girls get ready .... "LOL"
Prostitution is legal in Columbia. Prostitution is legal in some U.S. states. What's the big deal?
Carl - you will get an arguement from women's groups about human trafficing / slavery -
I was surprised to hear some Conservative opinions that by legalizing prostitution,
it would be much safer for sex workers. So we may have some common ground here !
Arresting Johns and hookers in a trade that has been going on since women discovered that men will
pay for their pu-sies seems a stupid waste of law enforcement time, expense and effort !