A dozen Secret Service agents who went with President Barack Obama to an international summit were relieved of duty because of misconduct involving prostitutes in Colombia ahead of the Summit of the Americas, the Associated Press reported late Friday. The activity took place before Obama arrived on Friday night.
Secret Service spokesman Edwin M. Donovan sent this statement to TPM:
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.
These personnel changes will not affect the comprehensive security plan that has been prepared in advance of the President’s trip.
