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Subscribe to RSSThree Secret Service employees will leave the agency in the wake of a Colombian prostitution scandal which took place when the agents were protecting President Obama during a visit to South America. NBC's Mark Potter reports.
Updated at 7:03 p.m. ET: Three Secret Service agents implicated in the scandal involving the procurement of women during President Barack Obama's trip to Colombia are leaving the agency, a spokesman said Wednesday.
In a statement, the spokesman, Paul Morrissey, said a supervisory employee was allowed to retire, a second supervisory employee was listed for "removal for cause" and a non-supervisory employee had resigned.
Eight other agency employees remain on administrative leave without their security clearances, Morrissey said.
The statement confirmed a report earlier Wednesday by NBC News that the implicated agents were "offered" the opportunity to submit to polygraph tests. A U.S. official told NBC News that some of them had agreed.
New details of the scandal emerged after a round of congressional briefings Wednesday.
Eleven women were involved with 11 Secret Service personnel, a Senate source told NBC News. Investigators are looking into reports of drug use but haven't found any evidence yet, the source said.
None of the 11 men had guns, radios, equipment or schedules in their rooms, the source said, clarifying questions raised on Capitol Hill about whether operations or presidential security may have been compromised.
As a result of the scandal, the agency is undertaking a review of its policies regulating contact with foreign nationals, the source said.
NYT: Escort recounts quarrel with Secret Service agent
"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," the agency's statement said.
Three of the 11 Secret Service agents implicated in the Colombia prostitution scandal are leaving their posts, and eight more are on administrative leave. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan has told lawmakers that the 11 agents and 10 U.S. military personnel also implicated in the scandal are giving investigators conflicting stories, making it difficult to pin down the truth, according to several lawmakers who spoke to NBC News on Wednesday.
The Colombian government is separately investigating whether underage girls were part of the arrangements, but Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Sullivan believes the youngest woman involved was about 20 or 21 years old.
Grassley said Judiciary Committee staff members would meet with agency representatives later this week for a more complete briefing. He said the committee would conduct its own investigation only if members concluded that the Secret Service inquiry "was not doing the job."
Regardless, Grassley said, "I think you'll find their heads are going to roll." He added that he was worried that there could be a culture of misbehavior at the Secret Service, a concern that was echoed by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has also been briefed on the case.
Collins told NBC News that her "instinct" is that this wasn't an isolated incident. She said that she pressed Sullivan and that he had told her the agency was "scrubbing the files" for possible previous incidents.
The Defense Department is separately investigating the 10 military members who have been implicated. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday that "we let the boss down" in Colombia.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to brief leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next couple of days, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told NBC News on Wednesday.
Kristen Welker of NBC News and M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com contributed to this report by Michael Isikoff and Libby Leist of NBC News.
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Forced retirement. Very harsh! /sarcasm
Being permitted to retire with full benefits (health-care) and pension is pretty cushy. We'll never know the details, but these guys put their employer in an impossible position. The long and short of it all is that should you elect pull a stunt like this for heaven's sake be discrete. If a Columbian drug dealer is bad news a Columbian pimp and his local cop pals will be pretty close behind. These Secret Service agents need to be dismissed for cause and that cause is STUPIDITY.
It's just not that big of a deal. government workers hire hookers all the time. Anyone who's been to DC knows this - there's a thriving market for prostitution in that city. Plus it's not even illegal in the country of Columbia. As someone else on newsvine said, if this is the biggest scandal in Secret Service history then that's one squeaky clean agency.
I think ALL of the GSA agency should be fired. Mitt Romney, if you make that promise, you will get votes.
The number of women has gone fron 21 to 11; schedules in their rooms to no schedules, no guns, no radios, no equipment and I guess that means they had NO CREDENTIALS OR SECURITY BADGES either! Did they turn them in at the hotel desk?
Letting 2 of 3 of them retire with pensions intact, is already starting to stink. 5 to one odds that none of the other 8 agents are let go, just given an administrative slap on the wrist. I guess we can rule out jail for the SS. Maybe the military will man up and court martial the service men.
Did this happen in Chappaquiddick? - oh, no...Cartagena.
Fired...you want these guys fired...you guys have to be kidding. These guys have put themselves in harms way on a daily basis, protecting your freedoms, while you sit back on your lazyboy and sip beer. So they made a mistake, paying for hookers (legal in Colombia), what about the other 364 days of the year, did they not protect and serve, did they not go into dangerous situations on a daily basis for your protection and freedom. SO IF YOU ASK IF I ORDERED THE CODE RED, YOU DAMM RIGHT I DID.
The General claims "We (him) let the boss down". Your right.. YOU let a country down!!! Now go down with the ship you sank.. Leader of this sleaze!!!
Hey Eugeniacliff, was your friends wife a Columbia prostitute too. Send picture I'd like to see what kind of women they got over there.
They did not let the Country down. This is not a big issue. We all marvel at James Bond 007 when he has these encounters with foreign national, now here we have some real life 007 types and we are shocked with their actions. People get over it and move on.
while I don't agree with their actions, what law or rule did they violate by doing this? If thay are off duty in a country where prostitution is legal, then why is everyone all angry about it? I only see an issue with it if they had unsecured radios that were turned on and they had a sheet of code words and schedules in the room, (of which they memorize and dont have coppies of those just lying about), then I dont see the problem. does it send a sleezy message, yes. is it a violation of the law, no. is it a violation of the secret service code of ethics or employment manual, maybe but I dont own one of those so I cant say if it is or isnt.
I think it's funny that the reason it came out was because one cheap-@ss agent refused to pay a hooker. Don't messa with a hooka! ahaha. Seriously though, the whole thing is a disgrace and makes our country look like sleeze. Sadly it's probably not the first time they have hired hookers. I hope they all got herpes. Sad thing is, I would not be suprised if the President already knew this kind of crap was going on. All part of the "good ol' boy" system, disgusting. And from what I read some of those agents are married, what a bunch of b@stards! Would not want to be their wife.
Many say no big deal and others want to hang them. I thnk it depends on who you work for and what your responsibilities are. If you haul garbage for a living I guess it doesn't matter what you do on your "own" time but if you work for the SS it does matter what you do on your "own" time. You accept this when you take the job.
Wow, damage control at it's LAMEST.
A report just yesterday said SCHEDULES WERE IN ROOMS.
Yep, I believe everything MSNBC publishes more than I believe what Mr. Obama is telling the American people......LOL.
Are you kidding me? This is much ado about nothing. Certainly not as bad as Prez Clinton and Monica, all the other political figures who have had scandals that forced them out of office.
This is total BS. These agents did nothing wrong. I guess from now on we will have only gay SS agents. Let's see how that works out.
Aint that the truth. The Prez most likely is not even mad except maybe that he did not get his boy/man like he used to in the Down Low Club. Obama and Rahm Emmanuel were known members of the Gay Club in Chicago. Just ask Larry Bland and Donald Young about their dates with Obama, oh wait you can't as they were murdered execution style. By the way, how many women have ever come forward about dating a young Bareback Obama.
theobamafile.com/_shakystuff/RumorDownLow
people keep saying oh we're making a big deal, but most people don't understand. this is the SECRET FRIGGIN SERVICE!!! they are supposed to be squeaky clean. to even qualify your criminal record has to be squeaky clean (that includes speeding tickets) so yeah they are held to a higher standard than the average american, just like the military, so what they do or say in their down time matters. if these guys were average joe's then they could hire a prostitute and go about their business, but they are not average joe's. these are not mall security cops here people, their job is to protect the president of the united states.
why just three..why not all,if three where dismissed..boy's will be boy's..
Those who say this is no big deal obviously do not understand the position these agents put themselves in. many of the agents involved are married, meaning that they put themselves in a compromising situation that someone could have used to try and blackmail them, e.g give me the presidents schedule/motorcade route or I tell your wife and kids about your cavorting with hookers. If you don't think this happens, wake up. In the spy business it is what is known as a honey trap. They use good looking women to get people into compromising situations and then blackmail them. This did not happen in this case, but the lack of judgement exhibited by these agents to put themselves in this situation to start with is grounds for yanking their security clearance and getting rid of them. When you hold a high level security clearance as these agents do, your behavior outside of work is just as subject to review as your performance on the job. Doing anything that could put you in a compromising position is grounds to have your clearance pulled, and a married man (or even someone who is single) associating with hookers definitely falls into that category, even in Colombia where prostitution is legal. If your actions include things you would not want made public, you are risking having your clearance pulled.
I do not buy the story they are no trying to spin that these guys had no schedules, weapons, radios, or other equipment in their rooms at the time. I have never known a law enforcement officer who traveled for work without a weapon. Since weapons are issued individually to the agents, they would have their weapons with them. It is not something they are going to lock up in the hotel safe, particularly not in a foreign country. I also do not buy them not having copies of the president's schedule after such big deal was made about this earlier. The fact that only now, days later, they are trying to say they never had them sounds like Washington spin at it's most unbelievable. I might buy their communications gear being in another central location, but even that is a little questionable.
While it sounds a little absurd that agents are being allowed to retire and keep their benefits, it would also seem a little harsh to take away benefits that they earned over many years of service for one incident. If they are found to have done anything illegal, I might change my view on that, and yes they should serve prison time if that is the case. However, if this is just about the embarrassment and unprofessional behavior, then forcing them out seems like the most you would expect to have happen. After all, if you get fired from a civilian job with a private company for poor judgement or unprofessional behavior you do not lose your 401(k) balance or even the company contributions to the account.
OMG! They purchased sex from prostitutes?!. . . . . Nobody has ever done that before! . . . I'm shocked! What is the world coming too.
SNORE!!!
Yeah, except had Obama come to any harm at all, guess who would have been at fault? This isn't a fraternity house, those are not frat boys (although their actions would state otherwise) their job is to secure the safety of the President of the United States. They need to party, let them do it when they're not working. Cheapskate whoremongers getting laid on the taxpayer dime and ho hum, boys will be boys responses are great EXCEPT AND UNTIL something tragic happens.
Aside from the "Honey Pot" plot and morality, I find it amazing that these guys would throw their careers away over a $50 dollar hooker. Geeze, paid the babe and get on with your life. They should have known that before they started playing. If they're that niave then maybe we're better off with out them.
These "Young 'n Dumb n' full of"....well not after the ladies finished with them. These Young and VERY STUPIDLY Arrogant Idiots Blew the whole show AND THEIR CAREERS for $60.00Bucks?? How Stupid can They Be??? They SHOULDN'T be in the Secret Service when they parade That kind of Immature MisJudgement. Hey BOYS!!; got laid??? The LADIES MUST BE PAID Morons!!!!
I concur with Kabluie. . . .it's their parsimony as much as anything that disqualifies them from anything more than mall security.
Haggling over $50?! I'm sure the details of their 'performance' would be entertaining.
I must be crazy but has any one notices that GASOLINE is 4 fuking dollars a gallon and we are bitching about a couple secret service men getting their weeners wet.
Let me see if I understand this.. I may have misread:
The Secret Service.. Governmental Agency assigned to protect and defend the President of the United States... out of the country .. and didn't have guns or schedules in their rooms.
Ok.......got it!
Seriously? SERIOUSLY???
Well what the fukk would you do, Mogul218? Cut their fukking dikks off an eat 'em?
I guess you would.
lol...
Not to worry care, the "boss" will pass the buck.
Has he ever accepted blame for any of his screw ups? Puts me in mind of the fellow in england who said nothing was his fault because everyone knew that he should not be given the job, since he was not qualified.
The commander is past due to have his talk with the boys, "No drinking and whoring on my watch but, if you gotta, for God's sake pay the whores."
Maybe dear leader needs to start screening these hand-picked Chicago thugs he is surrounding himself with. Wear any of these elite of the elite drug tested? Nah...hell they didn't even care enough about their boss to take a bullet for him. Party on Christian Soldiers : )
The one with in a "supervisory capacity" was allowed to RETIRE?!?!? That is TOTAL BS!! This means he'll get his retirement benefits... which he should NOT be entitled to! Since when is ANY SS member without the things they stated? This is total crap. It wasn't the fault of the President, so all of you blaming him need to grow up. You all act like he has total control of everything in this country 24/7. That's why there are AGENCIES to handle these day to day things. He's got enough on his plate. The military is turning into a total disgrace, and now the SS. The people that don't care enough about this country and its reputation to do such stupid things need to all be fired with NO future benefits. This way, people who are looking for jobs that can act like adults no matter what their feelings are about our President can have them.
forreal and JS in SD...exactly right.
Just curious, do you think the same concepts apply to the Commander in Chief?
What we have here is another case of Trickle Down Corruption. It starts at the top. Vacations for Obama and family where the kids are listed as senior staff so the tax payers pick up the tab. GSA even daring to make videos bragging about partying on the tax payers dime and now this mess in Columbia. How many since this administration took over and brought in its crew from Chicago, have been sent home because of thier deeds or thier found out history? How many, like the NLRB union guy remain? How many times has this administration disregarded the Constitution and attempted to write itself more power as in the multitude of unprecidented "executive orders"? Democrats always claim that Republiccans believe in trickle down economics and it doesn't work. Well, I'd have to tell them if it worked half as well and half as fast as this Administration's Trickle Down Corruption, we'd be in real good shape.
Look, I was in the Navy and have experienced my share of liberty ports. What these guys did was clearly inappropriate given their security clearances and the potential for blackmail, not to mention a less than spectacular job representing the US in a foreign country. They will get the discipline that the situation merits.
Having said that, ease up on the calls to take away their retirements, etc. These guys were among the elite and they will no longer be, perhaps just because of one transgression. Many will also have heartbroken families to deal with. Sounds like enough pain to me. Some of us have had some pretty edgy experiences in our lives, if you haven't, I'm not sure that's such a good thing.
So what? The three will have high paying jobs by next week. They couldn't have been secret service agents without a few powerful connections.
Yep. Companies that deal in high-level security will snatch these guys up in a heart-beat.
Probably get big raises in the process.
"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," the agency's statement said.
Well, that's a novel idea. It certainly hasn't been tried yet!
I've looked through the above posts, but not the rest. What I haven't seen yet is the question, "Why haven't the senior agents (bosses) or others in the "chain of command" in the Secret Service been reprimanded (ie. FIRED) or otherwise called to account for the actions of their agents?" Probably, as in the military, the more senior ones rank, the more cushion one has from being held to account. "The buck stops here," no longer applies, if it ever did.
P.S. - I'm not talking about the so-called super who was allowed to retire. I'm talking about the big dogs in thr home office.
I sense there will be quite a few divorce lawyers lining up to take these guys to the cleaners if what we hear is true that a number of them are married.....either that or the women they're married to knew they did this and it was expected and kept around because for the positions their husbands held or the life style it afforded them
Good for these agents. Protecting Mr. Obama is not worth dying for. It's better to have a safer career.
Yeah protecting Bush for 10 years after his Presidency is a worse idea...Moron !!!
I wouldn't pay $10 out of my wallet to protect or save Obama, let alone my life.
What I have a problem with is the fact that they all were so comfortable in doing this, they must have done things like this regularly. This wasn't one guy. Is this the climate of our current presidency or is someone trying to make Obama look bad?
That's right MGONZALEZ, blame BUSH for this too, I suppose these Aholes Inherited the prostitues from BUSH? MORON>
Has nothing to do with the President, its a regular thing for many americans with Law powers overseas. I witnessed Marines In Portugal forcing theyre way in ont a Night Club that was full to capacity ..theyre words " we are american and we want to go in" ..We( Many of Us) have a perception that all is ours and in a way that is why many people from other Countries dont like us .... And the sad part is that all this fool had to do was pay the girl 48 dollars ..Not much of a brain in a CIA agent these days
Wow! No shortage of haters today. I guess respect for the presidency is available for Republicans only, or maybe just.... I would contribute to a fund for an airline ticket for young_tennis to go to Somalia.
This time they "only" paid for hookers. What if next time they assault a hooker or maybe decide a young lady is a "hooker" if they chose her to be. What if they are inebriated, with a hooker and get their badges guns etc. stolen, what if they buy illegal drugs and do this, what if some of them like little boys (not legal). Too many possible what ifs... They were representatives of the USA in a foreign country. Their behavior should be above reproach. Don't think in this case they were only to behave responsibly 9 to 5. They can do what they want on their own time, back in the US when they are on vacation, personal leave, etc.. Could they seriously be stupid enough not to know that it's highly possible that the media would just love to seem them doing something stupid?? REally, what were they thinking?? Oh right..they were only thinking with the little head. Hope this tail was worth their careers, marriages etc.. Damg, have they ever heard of masturbation if they need release that badly????
@francobobfred.Thats because your a coward,probably wouldnt even protect your own kids from danger either.
You can say whatever you want negative about mr obama,but the fact remains that he accomplished something historical. Something none of you haters will ever even come close too doing. Congratulate the man, hes earned his position. Even after all that was done to the black man in this country. You might not like him or his policies but you gotta respect the status hes reached.Basically ruler of the free world.Now think about if we had started off equal.
So what does this mean? "One is being fired," -- that means no pension; "one is retiring" -- that means ALL his pension and benefits; and "another is resigning," - that means rolling that big ole pension over.
Yep, they still get to be on the taxpayers dime for the rest of their lives!
Yank their pensions.
Only in American government. Bet he gets fully paid funded healthcare for life as well. Not the obama care they are forcing on us either! As my granddaughter would say, that's UGHsgusting!
So you believe that those guys should be completely stripped of everything they earned because of a mistake that did not compromise security. I'm not saying what they did is acceptable but stripping them of all their benefits is ludicrious! Apparently you have never made any mistakes in your life...........
What "Obamacare" are they FORCING on you? The part of the act that says insurance companies can't deny coverage or overcharge for it for people with pre-existing conditions? The part that says parents can choose to (but don't have to) cover their young adult children? The part that provides low cost coverage for people otherwise unable to afford insurance (which is still cheaper than treating these folks for colds in the emergency room?) Or the part that says you can't be a deadbeat and make the rest of us pay emergency room prices for your health care because you are too darn cheap to pay for insurance even though you CAN afford it? Only the latter has any element of compulsion to health care consumers, as well it should!
"Wants", that is about as succinct as I've heard "Obamacare" described. The DNC should take note.
Colom... I think it's safe to assume this is not the first time they've made this "mistake". It's just the first time they've been caught. I think it is also safe to assume that they got lucky (no pun intended) that this didn't compromise security THIS TIME. Agents that do stupid crap like this give other agents the idea that it is acceptable and someday it could end in disaster.
Work Hard......I have no doubt that this isn't the first time this "mistake" was made but we have to stick to the facts. All those assumptions you made are not relevant because it's not the case. In this case, with what is presented to the public, I think pushing them out of the agency was enough. Do you really believe that by stripping their benefits it would deter others from doing the same?? Wishful thinking..........they will lay low for awhile and be smarter about it. It's the way of the world.
Yeah so what, they spent their lives protecting the Prez. if they have earned a pension they keep it. They're not quilty for their entire lifes work. They screwed up. fire them, demote them, whatever, but don't try and take what they have earned.
How about a defamation of character law suit brought by (government) we the people? Freeze any assets. These slime need to pay for making us look cheap one way or another.. Lets make this right one way or another.. Strip them of any wealth we have given them all.. The GENERAL TOO.. He is their leader.. If this happened ofton which it sure is sounding like it then the man in charge needs to be accountable to this country..
Just think if these men have wives or children. I hope not.. They have no conscience..
Things need to CHANGE Obama.. Make being a representative figure of our nation a thing we hold DEAR.. and begin CHANGE in the culture of representing America.. Restore it to glory..
care4mycountry,mychildren,myparents..........we gave them wealth, was it the lottery or did they put themselves in harms way many times protecting yourcountry. Fire the General, why was he there, was there not levels upon levels of leadership between him and these soldiers, and when is it against the military code of justice to buy sex in a country where it is legal. Obama make change, you've already gotten all the change your going to get from that guy! It's Ok to send men and women to Afganistan and Iraq to shoot people up, but heaven forbid you send them to drug heaven Columbia and they get their other guns cocked. Hell, after you strip them naked, hang'em because their life is over,or getting an STD. Oh and publish their pictures and names in the paper so we can spit on them when they walk by, brand their foreheads. Oh the heck with all that just shoot'em.
As for change.. "A shut mouth does not get fed" I wish to use my voice in this country.. I do not wish to see our country represented to the world as a bunch of sleazy cheap animals. If I were given a job so important, like protecting the President, I would live it, sleep it, and represent it as the cherished country it is. Because that's what it is.. Its bigger than a cheap good time.. They could have returned off duty if that is what they personally enjoy. We gotta change the way we treat our country.. Love it or we will loose it.. As for what they did, I feel we need to show the world that those few people are not us as a whole. If what they did was not criminal to our representation, then punish them by taking back what we bought.. Its time to start leading with an example of excellence and loyalty.. Then people who sign on to spend our money will know.. We care about what we pay for and we mean bussiness. For heavens sake, those guys even had specific details laying around.. How lousy of a job should we accept?
Most government pensions are not contributory and thus no roll-over. However his Thrift Savings Plan can roll over.
But only the boss is allowed to retire and the others not. Punishment should be just and the same; not different.
I gladly support benefits for service men and women who do not jeopardize national security in a pathetic attempt to get laid. Regardless of what they had in the room, cavorting with hookers is a no-no because it makes them susceptible to blackmail.
These men embarrassed the entire program - and that's not fair to their colleagues who do the right thing every day. They don't deserve to be on the taxpayers dime for the rest of their lives any more than a corporate executive deserves a golden parachute. There needs to be consequences for bad behavior.
Most people who screw-up at work would be fired and left with nothing.
as long as they have 5 years in, they will eventually be allowed to draw a pension and have gov funded insurance ( they will have to pay about 20% of it and the gov the 80% ). The only way for that not to happen, is if they are charged with a crime. If they quit, they will be able to draw their pension at some time.
Power of the "puddy cat", will bite you every time.
Wow that's great news about the US Secret Service OH SO SPECIAL....agents/officers. Now they can all get jobs with Ted Nugent as roadies since they know how to hire whores. They'll be great assets to Ted on the road if he gets bored and with the ability to hire hookers for only 30 bucks...these guys know the value of a hard-earned AMERICAN TAX PAYER buck.
Anita Bath banned, rereg of multiple accounter ren-755775.
Wow, I didn't know they paid them from their expense account. How do you list that? Maybe as a training expense. Or maybe they paid them out of their own pockets?
Fire the bastards. Take their pensions and their benefits. Put them under the jail, if possible.
And if you make a mistake at your job (while off-duty), you think the Government should confiscate all of your retirement benefits earned over the years. That's stupid.
Laurence, it's always easy for those with less and a jealous streak to call for taking a man's hard earned retirement, and anything else you can get...those people think the money will be redistributed to them. Unabridged probably doesn't have a retirement account so he/she doesn't know any better.
Unabridged - are you the hooker that did not get payed or a scorned army wife, because you sound crazy or just plain stupid. Go after the guy who pooped in your cornflakes and not every guy out there.
unabridged...you are as delusional as the rest of the idiot couch sitters who are spouting "fire em!" "take away their pension!" blah, blah, blah. Did they make a mistake? Heck yes, but name one person who hasn't! Name one politician who hasn't! Don't you think that an honest politician is more important than a secret service agent who keeps his pants up? I guarantee that you are far from perfect. Despite what you think you know, these men have earned their retirement benefits through years of protecting the POTUS no matter what political party they are affiliated with. Jail? Your an idiot! American politicians have been getting away with these kind of things for years, and nothing happened. Just look at ol Billy Clinton. He is married, gets a blowjob from an intern in his office where he is supposedly leading the free world and nothing happened?
They were not off duty. They went to Colombia to work.
These are highly trained professionals who were sent to keep the President and our country secure. They were off duty but the ethical and moral integrity that is expected in these positions does not end when on foreign assignment; it ends when the employee returns to home soil.
Any security officer should know that spies and conspirators often work in teams so entertaining anyone that was not checked out should have been suspect. Any one of these guys could have been a target at any time while in Columbia on duty. They put the mission at risk. They apparently did not compromise security this time; however, they compromised their personal and professional integrity and being stupid can leave you without a job.
My response to your foolish diatribe is to first ask a simple question; How many of you jackass brains work for the federal government? Also, there are absolutely no honest politicians. That's an oxymoron. And this was not "just a mistake". We made a mistake when we elected our failure-in-chief. This is downright treason, and if it had been done in another era, these guys would likely face a firing squad. People who make light of this heinous situation are the real source of what's wrong with America. No one is responsible. No one is accountable. Just give me more entitlements and more free stuff, and I will vote for you. Because other miscreants got away with equal crimes in the past, including dumbass Clinton, is absolutely no justification for overlooking these acts of treason. These bastards don't deserve and they certainly have not warranted any "hard-earned retirement". When you get fired you lose your benefits, all of them, every last penny. And that's exactly what these SOBs deserve. And by the way, I have much more than less, a wonderful retirement system, and I don't envy these bastards at all. I am simply tired of a too-big government stealing my money and doing it with impunity. You contrarians have @!$%# for brains.
They didn't listen to mama when she told them, "Don't mess with them things boy, they got teeth".
In military, they never give out their guns; then where were their guns?
If they were secret service agents, first thing they have to protect themselves with weapon and communication media. Then where were their communication media and weapons?
I know. While I'm happy to hear that there were no weapons or sensitive materials in the rooms, I don't really understand it.
Sorry, I worked with agents. They always have their weapons, so that is a lie right there!
I bet there was some internal infights within the White House related powers. Who knows exactly what happened? We will never know it ... or just in 10-20 years.
Using prostitutes was always - and will continue to be - "business as usual" for all Government related people in high positions.
They didn't have weapons because they were the advance team. They were not protecting anyone and had no need for weapons.
Sensitive equipment would probably be kept under guard at the American embassy. However, when they brought in foreign nationals who had not gone through any security checks they put the President and their part in the mission at risk. That is why it took no time to take them off the job.
These guys decided they could play by their own rules and found that there's no breaking the rules when you're talking about security.
Sorry Laurence.... that dog won't hunt! They had weapons, or what would be their use if the other team needed back-up? No weapons? Not buying that with your dime...
That's why I don't understand it. How can they not have weapons? I don't buy it.
My understanding is that even though they were there in advance of the President, they were the team on protection duty. When this whole thing unraveled, Secret Service yanked them all out of Columbia and scrambled to pull together a new team in time for the president's arrival. They had agents coming in from three different countries to plug the holes.
Resignation does nt substitute for prosecution and incarceration.
What they did was not a crime where they did it (except possibly theft in the case of the woman who did not get paid.) So, they cannot be punished, with perhaps that exception, in Colombia. Perhaps unfortunately, stupidity, dereliction of duty and the like usually do not carry criminal penalties here. This may be different for the members of the military who were involved. The UCMJ criminalizes some such conduct that is not unlawful for civilians. But the Constitution does not let Congress pass a law AFTER the fact (these are called "ex post facto" laws.) So, unless there is an existing criminal statute that was violated, there is no way to have prosecution and incarceration. As to what appears to be disparate treatment, I would assume the supervisor who was allowed to retire did not directly participate in the conduct, but was lax in supervision; and, that the supervisor who was fired probably was more directly involved.
What would you jail them for HMS. Improper display of weenie?
Stealing from a prostitute.
HMS - they did not commit a crime. If they did anything it would be violating Secret Service regulations. I think this is overblown. I would take them off the Presidential detail and put them in other jobs at Treasury and put a letter in their jacket so if they do anything in the future it would be grounds for termination. The guys that are old enough to retire should be allowed to retire.
The problem that these agents created was of bribery to get at sensitive information or high level people. The prostitutes could have bribed them to keep quiet. When it became public knowledge, that bargaining chip went away.
Now they just engaged in bad activities that shouldn't have compromised anything other than their personal relationships and marriages. The Secret Service hires great people. The punishment sounds harsh. Suspension without pay could have been appropriate.
*blackmailed
Whoops, didn't mean to like your comment. You start of making sense, but then you lose it. This isn't just a mess up - this is protecting the President of the United States of America. Forget politics, this is a matter of national pride and security. Anyone with such a serious job who puts themselves in a position to be blackmailed at the risk of man and country deserves the harshest type of punishment that can be delivered.
If you elect to be in the Secret Service, then you choose to be held to a higher standard than most people. The higher you go, the farther you fall. That is a CHOICE.
I do agree that the Secret Service mostly hires great people - but these are not them. They are not entitled to the same benefits as their colleagues who ARE the great people. How is that fair?
So why aren't their names splashed out there all over the place for everyone to see?
Patti - why the hell do you care what their names are.
Names should be posted and so should race. All the other people in the news get names and race posted, so why not these guys ? Why should they care? since they felt their behavior was OK. They should not be sheilded. Nobody else is.
This is an American scandal, so lets see it all.
WTF does their RACE matter? They had a job. They disgraced it. I agree their identity should be made public. But their RACE? What about the length of their penis? the color of their eyes, their heighth, weight etc.? Physical aspects have NOTHING to do with moral character!
We need another jet to bring in "non foreign nationals" "workers" to keep the money at home.
What a waste of government effort and media coverage on this whole thing. We are so backwards in this country. There are a lot more important issues than hookers.
Right on, Bill. Once you switch on the TV all you can see/hear is about some crime, coups, deaths, etc. Nothing educational, nothing good for the public. All hate and sensational news. It's disgusting.
all of this for a piece of 50 dollar tail.
The price was $800 for that "tail" but the American thought he could get away with stiffing her twice; in the end, with the help of a few police officers, she was paid $250 for that "tail".
I'll bet he shat his pants when the Colombian police were knocking at his door demanding he pay the woman or go to jail. And even though a payment was made, the police still went to the US Embassy to complain!
I'll bet the guy thought he could just treat the woman like trash because she is Colombian and a prostitute. I hope his wife divorces him and her lawyer makes him so broke he has to sell himself.
$800 are you serious. Miami = $250, Puerto Rico = $50, Dominican Republic = 100, and Colombia = 150. No wonder that the agent did not want to pay.
What a bunch of losers. The Dork who refused to pay at the minimum be fired, no pension, no bennies.
No the other ten need to drag his rear out behind the woodshed and give him a good whooping for getting everybody in trouble.
Hardly brutal discipline. Expect they will walk straight into jobs at Blackwater, CSG International, Stratfor or any of the other myriad of 'contractors' our government has spawned. They should feel right at home in their new equally ethically doubtful environment, and will still be paid by the taxpayer. What a circus? Given this outcome expect the remaining characters to continue with business as usual - will just be careful to pay so as to not get caught in future.
Oh, please, I love the story that they decided to come up with. The guy had no idea this was a prostitute until the next morning when she demanded money. That's their story and they are sticking with it! They thought they had all found really easy women for the evening! They allowed one guilty party to retire so they can keep their good government benefits. I know we would all like to screw up, literally, on our jobs and still come out smelling like a rose instead of the skunk cabbage we are!
the allure of women! :)
First the only reason one was allowed to retire is because he has reached retirement age and was likely not directly involved in any criminal activity. If the guy had 20 years of service then that is what they should have done. The only way to lose a federal pension is if you committ treason, murder, or certain high level felonies. None of the behavior in this case leads to any of that. Those that don't have enough years to retire and whom are directly implicated are screwed. They will be fired and should be fired. I think the polygraph will clear up the last loose ends on who will lose their jobs. Now for those of you who just want to keep kicking a guy when he is down what kind of punishment would you want? Death by firing squad? All agents proved to be directly involved with solicting and purchasing prostitution will be fired unless they have enough years to immediately retire. How much blood do you want. It is likely only one or two are old enough to retire so the rest will lose their jobs, their retirements, and their names will be black marked for life so their career in law enforcement is over. Can you imagine trying to get another law enforcement job after this debacle! So save your petty judgements for your own lives. These men will pay a high price for their behavior and although I agree the price is well deserved I take no pleasure in watching peoples lives ruined. Good Day, Joe.
What's the big deal? If any significant information, or recordings etc. were afoot, then ok, raise cane. However, these were people just looking for some recreational sex. Now they are being cut loose for it, even tho' no security harm has been found? How is this different from Monica and President Clinton? He even lied about it, and zippo charges were brought and he was not impeached. Ah, yes, I forgot. The old "doubole standard" applies here. If you are connected high enough, no repercussions will occur. So these lowly SS agents cannot protect themsleves against being human. Only President Clinton had that ability. C'mon. Who's messin' with who? We all know that shenanigans like this occur all the time in political arenas all over the country. This is utter foolishness, and piety. It's sickening.
He WAS impeached. Impeachment refers to the TRIAL - not removal from office.
Here's three sources showing that Clinton WAS impeached
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/clinton/clintonhome.html
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/clinton.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/impeach.html
Clinton was Impeached. The House does that job. Then the Senate tries whomever (judge, President, member of House or Senate) and either finds that person guilty or not. Clinton was found to be not guilty because under the way they defined sex, he didn't have sex with Lewinsky, even though by everything we know about sex he did. The members of the House that drew up the Impeachment papers were simply idiots. Of course they were Republicans so that goes without saying.
jackieboy - "what the defination of is is?" Instead of Republicans, perhaps you could have said politicians. All pols are as crooked as any human can be, but they are not stupid. Questions and/or charges can be worded any way, especially in a way as to let the perp have a way out. BTW, these poor bastards are caught up in a PLOITICAL problem.
Too bad we cannot fire bad teachers, bad politicians, and bad Presidents as quickly as these agents were unceremoniously fired. Anyone that believes this story and agrees the word of a $47 hooker should be taken over the word of (11) professional Secret Service agents; I've got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale for ya. I believe the entire matter was contrived and the agents fired are merely sacrificial lambs to give Obama a boost in the ratings.
Problem is, I don't hear any of them denying it! I'm pretty certain if they had a defense, we would have heard it.
arrogant agents as they are should have held to the calling of the job and not their second helmet, all should be removed to at least to the uniform level of the USSS.
No Midnight Blue those agents not old enough to retire, and proved to have purchased prostitution, will most certainly be fired. The reason those left are taking polygraph test is in an effort to save their jobs. It is likely the 11 agents were together and it is also likely that some, if not a majority, did not purchase prostitution but were present. Being present is a bad thing. Also remember some military personel were also involved and you have heard nothing about them. Now the military might demote or even prosecute some of their members for direliction of duty. Now those Secret Service Agents that did not participate in the prostitution are left with having to prove themselfs innocent. In all law enforcement agencies it's guilty until proven innocent. It's all part of the higher standard they are held to. The presumance of innocence does not apply. So their will be no demotions. You will either retire, be cleared, or fired. The ones cleared of wrong doing might get a crap assignment for the rest of their careers but they won't be demoted.
As long as the ladies got paid, our guys were gentlemen and no Columbian laws were broken, I don't get the big deal. The real crime is the tax $$ wasted to "investigate" some politioco's moral pet peeve (or excuse to get their face in the "news") Doubt if this would raise an eyebrow in most civilized nations. Judge not...
Full price + TIP for the hooker would have been much cheaper!!
He had already given her the tip. That's what all this is about.
Why government employees always get full pensions and full benefits when they do something that would cost everything to the average citizen. Enough already, of course they will retire and go on with life , i would too, great benefits, great pension, and the ability to find outside workd better then anyone else is not punishment...Im looking for federal or State work , hell yeahh i am
Ok Justadummechanic most people work for peope who could care less what you do on your private time. Prostitution is a misdemeanor crime and most jobs only care about felonies. Sure sleeping with prostitutes might cost the average person to suffer a loss of marriage, loss of money to child support but rarely does it cost them their jobs. I mean the worst case scenario for most non-law enforcement folks is the chances of getting a disease. So please stop being so dramatic. In fact in Nevada, at the Brothel, you can sleep with all the prostitutes you want and not face any legal cosequences. So don't act like what is happening to these agents is not a big deal. Most of you would not face this kind of hardship from your job over this. Stupid comment Justadummechanic!
Even in a non governemnt job, your 401K would have nothing to do with something you did outside of work, or for that matter even at work. Stealing might bring you some jail time, but only one of those agents attempted to steal his services.
Fire the cheap bastards, suspend all bennies, and for christ sake make them pay that woman what's owed to her. Lying thieving scum.
Gotta admit, besides all the other bad implications of what that agent did, you also need to add "monumental cheapskate" to the charges.
Wow- a real black eye for the Secret Service, always considered to have a sterling reputation as the creme de la creme of Law Enforcement agencies. Looks as if they are going to do some serious house cleaning...