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Manuel Pedraza / AFP - Getty Images
View of the Hotel Caribe in Cartagena, Colombia, where U.S. Secret Service agents are reported to have taken prostitutes earlier this month.
Updated at 6:28 p.m. ET: Three more Secret Service employees are being forced out and two others cleared of serious misconduct in the Colombia prostitution scandal that has tarnished the image of the agency.
In a written statement Tuesday, Assistant Director Pail S. Morrissey announced that the five remaining cases under investigation are being resolved.
Two Secret Service employees are resigning, Morrissey said, and one is having his national security clearance revoked. If the revocation is upheld on appeal that person must leave the agency.
One of the resigning employees stayed at the Hilton in Cartagena, the same hotel where President Barack Obama stayed, The Associated Press reported. The other Secret Service employees stayed at a nearby hotel.
Two others under investigation have been cleared of misconduct but will face "appropriate administrative action," Morrissey said.
All told, the Secret Service investigated 12 people in connection with the Colombia incident. The final outcome was seven resignations, three cleared with administrative punishment, one termination and one retirement, according to NBC News.
Six of the total were forced out last week while one employee was cleared.
In addition to the dozen Secret Service personnel, another 12 military personnel preparing for Obama's visit to Cartagena earlier this month for a summit are being investigated for cavorting with prostitutes. The Defense Department has suspended the security clearances of the military personnel.
Watch US News videos on msnbc.com
As many as 20 prostitutes were involved with the group, officials say, and none are believed to be underage.
Two more agents are resigning, while two others are being cleared of serious misconduct in the Cartagena, Colombia prostitution scandal. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
The incident broke into public view when one of the prostitutes reportedly argued with a Secret Service agent over her payment in a hallway of the Hotel Caribe. Local law enforcement intervened on the prostitute's behalf. Paid sex is legal in Cartagena, but violates codes of conduct for U.S. personnel who were working there.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Tuesday revealed details of another incident involving U.S. military and prostitutes in South America -- in Brazil, according to NBC News.
The incident occurred in the capital Brasilia in December. Three Marines assigned to the U.S. embassy were accused of throwing an alleged prostitute out of their car, NBC News reported. The woman suffered minor injuries.
Two Marines were demoted in rank; the third was not permitted to re-enlist, Panetta said. An embassy staffer who was allegedly involved was returned to the United States.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday blamed the Secret Service scandal in Colombia on the misconduct of a "couple of knuckleheads" and insisted that the vast majority of agents perform their work admirably.
"What these guys were thinking, I don't know. That's why they're not there anymore," Obama said during a taping of an appearance on NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" program while on a visit to North Carolina.
Obama talks Secret Service 'knuckleheads' with Fallon
Obama's comments appeared to play down the extent of the controversy, the worst in decades to hit the agency responsible for protecting the president, his family and other senior officials.
But there were signs of a widening scope of the inquiries stemming from the allegations.
Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said "whistleblower people" had called his office with allegations about past misconduct by Secret Service personnel and "we're beginning to talk to them."
Lieberman said he plans hearings on the scandal.
"Some of it seems credible, or at least worth investigating more," he told reporters outside the Senate.
A committee aide said just one call had been received so far, Reuters reported.
Lieberman said the focus of his committee's probe would not be events in Cartagena, which is being investigated by the Secret Service, but any incidents in recent years.
"I want to ask questions about whether there was any other evidence of misconduct by Secret Service agents in the last five or 10 years," he said. "If so, what was done about it? Could something have been done to have prevented what happened in Cartagena? And now that it has happened, what do they intend to do?"
The leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin and John McCain, said they expected to get a briefing on Wednesday from the Pentagon on the part played by military service members in the scandal.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press, Reuters and NBC's Kristen Welker, Kelly O'Donnell and Courtney Kube.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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What's really sad is these idiots are guarding our President.
Why is Obama not out for his fondling of little boys in Brazil? You can't have a double standard. It's like them saying that Zimmerman was White Hispanic after Obama set the precedent that Black is Black, not White African.
benny you are so sad and pitiful
You are such a dupe, allison.
master..... YOU are an A....hole plain and simple
this is so stupid...just legalize prostitution...better control over STD's, tax them, and makes it easier to track the criminal element, not to mention help reduce sexual crimes, murdered working women, less human trafficking, and safer environments for all involved. nobody would have to lose their jobs. stupidity knows no bounds. humans are humans. prostitution is here for life, and has been since before even jesus. hell, even jesus didn't have any problems with prostitutes, didn't he hang with one of them back in the day?
Good solid post Joe. Good to hear from you once again.
Just add these guys to the cesspool of men in high level positions that don't deserve to be there.
thanks fktard...been way too busy lately, working now and still doing college...lost the link to the moe-caplyspe thread, been way too long, praise the stooges you found me. today was my first post in months. could...not...resist...
I agree, but I don't think it's relevent. Prostitution is legal there, if I'm not mistaken. The issue is that they shouldn't have been using prostitutes on a diplomatic mission. It was unprofessional, and it reflected poorly on the country.
The prostitution in Cartagena WAS LEGAL. That is why the police were willing to investigate who the "johns" were who were unwilling to pay the agreed upon rate. If these dunces had just been willing to pay the freight for the girls to keep their mouths shut, they would all still have their jobs. You don't pay the girls for the sex, you pay them to leave and keep your secrets.
It sounds as if this has been going on for awhile and, frankly, I am surprised. Secret Service agents should be disciplined enough to keep their wieners in their pants while on the job. And that they'd be so indiscreet and open about their appetites shocks me. How easy it would be for a hostile to set them up and infiltrate their guard. This was just plain stupid, especially the dunce who exposed the whole thing by trying to stiff his "employee." Anyone that dumb shouldn't be in the secret service.
Mistreating these women by throwing them out of cars is intolerable. Clearly more training and better hiring is needed.
Why does Pimp Daddy Obama need SS Guards ?? Doesn't EVERYONE just love him?? Hehe!!
PS; Allah will protect him!!!
This is not about sex, people, it is about endangering the President (like him or not) by being idiots. The smokescreen created by the government - they had no guns, no schedules, no radios etc. - is rather implausible (they always have their guns). Let's just say that all of that is true, do they also turn in their IDs and Secret Service credentials? I wonder how much the credentials for a member of POTUS' security staff would go for on the
openblack market. Screw the prostitution, that's older than homo erectus; it is the lack of sense of duty and lack of resolution to perform said duty.Oh those Secret Service Agents...........they're almost as bad as our politicians!!!
Boys will be boys! When the cat's away, you better bet he's goin' to play! Did the woman get her money? She worked hard for it! I'm actually surprised there wasn't an unfortuate crash resulting in the loss of all the accused. That's what would have happened in the Nixon or Cheney, err, I mean Bush administrations. The American public would never have found out about the affair (how appropro). The guilty would have simply been dispatched with a la C-130 crashes into mountain.
And yet now, they get to make a decision against you if you speak up against the president or anything that they feel is detrimental to the president of the office. Check it out:  FOX NEWS
It is a felony and one year in jail. These people get to make the decision if you decide to protest near any location where the SS are, no matter who they are guarding. Lets see who protests now
It doesn't matter if Prostitution was legal or not. It doesn't matter whether you like the President or not. What matters is that it happened while they were on a diplomatic mission, supposedly to protect the President.
Total lack of responsibility on their part. They deserve the appropriate disciplinary actions place against them.
Paul, Nice to know we agree on something, your post above is absolutely correct. What caused this fiasco, was one particular agent who "stiffed" on of the girls out of her agreed on price. That guy is an idiot.
Please do not misunderstand I would prefer they simply stay away from this sort of behavior and the resultant firestorm will likely make the SS a more professional organization.
But this guy who decided not to pay (a lowly prostitute) is dumber than "Costanza, King of the idiots!" (from Seinfeld)
Janine, This group should not have done what they did, but they were not directly protecting the President, he was not even in the country when it happened. He came later, and it is my belief that the SS guys and gals did not "party" while he was there. This is not a defense of their acts, just that your comments elude to the President being ignored or put in some kind of danger because of their stupid acts, he was not. Regardless, the SS won't be doing this again anyway. So, I guess it was good that it came out. N
'Three more Secret Service employees are being forced out and two others cleared of serious misconduct in the Colombia prostitution scandal that has tarnished the image of the agency.'
I am surprised there is anything left to tarnish, all semblance of decency, morals and ethics disappeared a long time ago.
Since when does the Secret Service have a bad reputation?
Allison-467021, master benjamin gates, don nielsen-1926509, you're each suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
Did the President have a ROOM mate on this trip??
The President has had male escorts on many of his trips.
master benjamin gates... I have never heard a living soul say anything like this except you. Do you enjoy just making crap up??? I think you need to get off this blog and maybe read a little... might make you a little smarter. Or at least go stay in a Holiday Inn Express.
herky... Did you see the pictures of the alleged hooker!! She looks 'fine'!! If ole pimp daddy obama was to tap that 'short row' Queen B Michelle (ugly) would be replaced !!
tdoc, you are the reason I think IQ tests should be required before being able to vote for POTUS. A minimum of 10 should be required and then you could save yourself the trip to the voting booth.
I'm confused. The USS Carl Vinson, and the USS Bunker Hill arrive in Fremantle Australia today, and it is openly discussed in the Press there that many of the sailors and officers will be availing themselves of the local prostitutes. It is a major Liberty port for the Navy, and the brothels run shuttle buses to and from the ships to their establishments quite openly, and legally. It has gone on since the Vietnam War.
I don't understand what the difference is: cryptologists/nuclear weapons specialists/nuclear reactor crews/Intelligence Officers vs' Obama's body guards. All have very high level security clearances. Puzzling.
Elwood, in the US they pretend to be puritanical at times. Since this is the case, I wonder why they haven't all been fired.
elwood - the reason these guys are in trouble is because they were not on Liberty. They were working security for the president of the US. They did not follow the established rules. They left themselves open to being blackmailed, etc. It is not the potential sex or sex that got them in trouble - it was the time and place they choose to participate in this activity. If the president came and had gone home and they were staying over a couple of extra days we would not be hearing about this.
deb - who is the greater danger? The guy who opens Obama's car door, or the guy with the keys to the nuclear torpedoes on an aircraft carrier? It isn't hard to find a new president, actually they have a spare already, but those Navy guys could sure cause some problems if they go off on their own.
John Walker ring a bell?
Either it is good for everyone, or it is good for no-one. The Navy have been doing it forever, and most of the guys who were nailed are ex-special forces. If the SS can't do it, then the Navy etc., shouldn't either. Good for the goose, good for the gander.
If they were under clear orders not to - then fine, but if not...
The difference is the president wasnt laughed out of the country, during the summit and its too close to the election to allow PR reps to quell it.. So a distraction was in order and this prostitute thing happened at the wrong time, in the wrong country and they are serving as the distraction.. Otherwise nobody would care and its quite obvious it happens all the time otherwise there wouldnt be so many agents careers going down the tubes..
I was in the Navy for 21 years. Durign that time (and probably dating back before Ceaser and the Roman Legions) young men in military service "cavorted with prostitutes". Look of the term "camp followers."
If the politicians are looking for some scandal, then they can lay blame on every president back to George Washington himself. There is not an American military base outside of the Muslim countries that doesn't have "hostesses" who provide sex to young military members. Any of you reading this will either know what I am talking about or go ask some family member who served...
My point is that this whole thing is a non-event. The President's security was in NO WAY compromised and the only scandal here is the political pundits making hay against an incumbent President. These young men were out getting a shot of leg while off duty in a foreign port. If they are going to get screwed for that, then where does the prosecution stop? Make every DoD member do a lie detector test to see if they ever took a girl back from a bar while overseas? How far back? Stop at the Mademoiselle from Armentiers?
Ahhh, Olongapo City! "Service to the Fleet...with a smile!"
No, the prostitutes were going to the hotel and the President's itinerary was in the room...big difference
@ Jack.... actually, not really a big difference. The reports have said that the few agents with an itinerary had them locked in the room safes. Who was going to be the big security threat - call girls only in the room at the same time as the agents? or the maid, or the building maintenance man? or some other hotel staff that could mess with the safes while the agents were gone? Of course, if such was really perceived as a threat to national security, then their bosses would never have allowed any itineraries to EVER be allowed into the rooms at any hotel, anywhere.
Oh, yeah....New Jolos on Magsaysay street. Maralyn's in Subic City. Kongs. And Angeles CIty outside of Clark. The Fire Empire bar and the huge Blue Angles poster on the wall. Oh, those were the days!
Don't forget Paulines in Angeles City
@ Jim, great post, this is just trumped up bullcrap to try to make the President look bad, Service members and government workers have been chasing tail since before this nation was a nation, Ben Franklin in Paris all the way through Secret Service today. If anyone thinks a couple of trained agents or special forces members are gonna spill secrets to some hookers after a few minutes of "party time" I got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell 'em.
I'm thinking of Obama and how he is connected to this problem. I have seen the First Lady not happy and the portrayal of Obama and his family has been of a young and fit family. I had thought that they were headed to divorce and marriage trouble in the past and was hurt by it and this is strengthening this belief. I'd almost believe with what I've read that the president has had prostitutes or something. I know Cuba will not be happy about it and it is like JFK, so watch out if true. I’ve even thought Obama was involved in a Watergate trouble, like with having a problem with passing health care and other bills and maybe there was some illegal activity. I’m not sure and hope the best and it all goes away but why was his wife not happy sometimes. I think Obama is up to some secret keeping and some distancing of his wife. This is not good and makes me believe he is cheating on her or something. We will have to see what happens I guess as more and more people are being caught in this stupid prostitute case.
Can you point to anything other than a gut feeling to support that list of claims?
I would expect that the president HAS to keep some secrets from his wife...it's the nature of the job!
No, it is all gut feeling off of what I've read and seen on video. Sorry to paint a bad picture of our President but with MSNBC saying themselves that Obama may be involved, it only leads me to say my two bits. I thought Obama was having trouble with his wife and the news said so too and with the secret service, she said she did not trust them. Also I never wrote about it for me and our counrty but now it is a topic so who cares. I'd look into him doing some sort of illegal activity too. He had trouble passing bills and other things, so who knows.
msnbc said that "obama may be involved"? got a link?
The one I could find is "Opponents attempt to connect Obama to Secret Service scandal" http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbc-news/47156771/#47149942 this might be all I saw but still it is saying that some do think he is involved and so who knows. I just want to say what is on my mind.
lol, "some do think he may be involved"? lol, some people think the earth is flat too.
Well I hope your right but this isn't going away and is getting bigger. I like Obama and I hated hearing how the First Lady was not happy in the White House. I'm only saying what is on my mind and am sorry if I am wrong.
james the president wasn't there.
Some also thought that he was a Muslim Kenyan Communist. People make @!$%# up. Ask for sources before you become concerned!
James is either a total idiot, ignorant, or being completely disingenuous. He's happy to repeat what is completely unsubstantiated by anyone. He's a rumor monger, unaware that FOXNEWS sued for the legal right to knowingly LIE to him and us, and won that "right" from a Federal judge in a Federal appeals Court.
What's sad is these people have to guard our Idiot. It was OK for Clinton and Kennedy and Edwards and...
But now you claim outrage. Where were you words then? Give it a break. It's sad that this a "Major MS-BS" news story.
Amen. Let his Blackberry be his Secret Service.
bill - its not the sex that got them in trouble. it was the sex they were having when they were suppose to be working.
Deb is right, it's all timing and context. With the president in town you have to be on the straight and narrow, once his wheels are up you can go out and get fugazi. It's pretty simple, really.
Uh, the President was NOT there, the "situation" occurred 5 days b4 his arrival. Little bout me, I work in law enforcement and began the application process with Secret Service in 2006, l later voluntarily withdrew as my "significant other" wasn't so keen on her future husband taking bullets for politicians.The job they were doing is what I would love to be doing, its called the advance team. They go to these cities to check out things like traffic flow/patterns, fastest routes to hospitals, and security at the hotel where the protectee will stay. I guess these guys took their orders to "check out EVERYTHING" rather literally :)
On the contrary, it is a good thing. It's minor distractions like these that could possibly save America from the worse vacationing POS president the US has ever had. Besides, Clinton, Kennedy, Gore, Roberts, Sharpton, Jackson, Anthony, all set a fine example, and those idiots were running a country.... and you're worried about a couple testosterone filled men who are protecting an assclown and puppet ruining a country.
You know Dufus... I seem to remember that Bush practically stayed at his ranch in Texas or at Camp David... don't recall him spending much time in Washington. Of course, he did enough damage with the little time he spent in D.C., maybe we should be thankful he really was on a semi-permanent vacation!
Perhaps they were testing the goods for the Pres.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. Except that Obama prefers boys. And that's not just me putting words in his mouth, it's self admitted by himself. I suggest that everyone research his old interviews where the subject comes up.
Why don't you post a link. The burden of proof is on the accuser.
missus benny gay is trying to project himself in the President, I think this sicko is a pedophile and USNEWS.MSNBC should let the authorities investigate him. We do not need garbage like this roaming around freely.
Best way to reform the frisky ranks of the Secret Service? Tell them two things: 1.) Historically many royal courts employed eunuchs as the inner guard, and 2.) this is Plan B if they can’t immediately "un-frisk" themselves when on assignment. Separately, I bet the Obamas are wondering how much they can trust the Secret Service agent housesitting their home in Chicago -- as imaged in this funny YouTube video:
One easy way, slow in coming, is to have more female agents; they're only 11% of the Secret Service now.
Like that's made any difference in the military.
More media hysteria in pursuit of an agenda. If we had a government with some guts, they would have simply ignored the media and carried on business as usual, and told the guys to be a little more discreet.
We need to investigate Lieberman to determine if he has no soul or is just a common snake?
Good luck finding dirt on him. It's been tried, many times.
This whole story is irrevelant. This is normal to those who must be away from home. It does not matter what what service group or military country they are from. The news article is just another attempt to lower the image of the President. Otherwise, if not for an election year, this is non-news.
Yep. Everytime I leave home, I'm a shoppin' for hookers.
lol
It's too bad that Sen. Lieberman and his Republican colleagues did not demonstrate this kind of investigative zeal in the wake of the WMD coverup and the treasonous outing of Valerie Plame.
They did. And guess what? Didn't find a GD thing. Don't forget, Lieberman was a Dem before he woke up.
Lieberman may be correct. many have stated that this was not an isolated incident, but simply typical of the behavorial norms accepted over the years in the agency. if that proves to be true, then there needs to be new leadership at the agency and a less tolerant attitude toward this type of behavior. i understand the arguments made above about young military men having a long history of consorting with prositutes in foreign ports--and I agree with that up to a point. however, these were professional men--married with families--but more importantly tasked with not just representing America while abroad, but also protecting our president. like obama or not is not the issue. he is the American president, and the protection of that person and the office/titleholder should never be compromised; what is more, it should never evoke the APPEARANCE of having been compromised. this incident has called into question the appearance of lacking integrity. further, they have embarrassed our nation and brought shame to the many men and women of the SS who have done stellar work for decades with pride and integrity. i also agree that we have had politicians and even presidents who have done equal, or worse. however, many if not all paid the price politically and personally. those who got absolution, in my opinion, should not have, as they embarrassed the office and our nation.
This is turning out to be one expensive piece of puzzy!
Amazing, people are being fired over some sex, but NO ONE has been fired over Federal agents being killed by guns allowed to flow into Mexico by BATF and FBI in the Fast & Furious gunwalking scandle being actively covered up by Obama/Holder.
Not over sex. Over disobeying direct orders and jeopardizing a mission. Defend your frat boys all you want, but more firings to come...
Disgraceful... I feel for their families...
goodness, I hope they don''t have families, could you imagine what diseases they could be bringing home, and condoms are not full proof. Stds are spread outside the condom area, especially with third world migrant sex workers who probably are part of the sex slave trade and can't even write. It is beyond disgraceful how a man could partake in that ,much less try to make it out as entertaining, disgusting.
more shenanigans are to follow..
with the fools and amateurs in the white house..
always behind the curve leading from behind..
ABO2012
No... We aren't really being told what's going on. I'm sure. Whether or not, these scenarios of prostitution are true. There's a LOT more going on. Secret Service members are being displaced. I seriously think this prostitution scandal is a cover-up of some sort. Someone's out to destroy these men, and they are going to take the folly of a few, to remove the rest. There's a power shuffle taking place. I learned a long time ago, not to take reports at face value.
This organization needs a complete review. There should be some audits conducted of recent past trips. Obviously there are deep rooted conduct issues that didn't just develop with this trip. I suspect there's a need for some house cleaning in the secret service, probably starting with the upper ranks on down.
Just the tip of the iceberg. Caligula in Washington goes right to the top. Throw them all out. Cancelling the Secret Service is what a responsible president would do and certainly would help the budget crisis.
Yeah? Who do you nominate to track down counterfeiters, then?
how about sheriff joe arpaio?
No history of Secret Service scandal under any other president, ever.
Under Obama, scandal after scandal....
The fish rots from the head.
Obama didn't appoint these agents... most of them have been with the Agency since before Bush! This has nothing to do with Obama. Do you read much???
Descrs...don't respond, it's useless. Let them rant and rave about the President...get it out of their systems here rather than somewhere else. If they can't do it here...who knows where they might do it. So much hate for one man, it must be awful to be consumed with so much hatred. These people sleep, eat and drink hatred for the president. I can almost feel the hatred jumping off the screen, so much evil. Must be dibilitating to be so consumed with so much hate. I bet just to hear his name send them into a frenzie. The funny thing is when you hate that much you are actually giving that person power over your life. They just need to calm down before they stroke out. All this name calling like it's going to make a difference to the people who have opposing views. Sticks and stones....
Denise,
When I read the news lately, it seems to always be about a bunch of testesterone-filled male idiots either revealing their hunger for sex or their hunger for violence or revenge. You know, this country is in a real mess... I'm beginning to think the women of this country need to band together and let's get some of this testesterone out of politics altogether!!!! We need people who can reason and think with their "brain" and not other body parts.
this is so damn funny it makes you cry,bet this isn't the first time or the last, just a deversion to keep eyes off odumbo, he will stickm it to us again, under cover of secret service
Obama is a Socialist Pig with Zero leadership skills. It was evident before he got elected and man has it shown itself since his election. This guy is worse than Jimmy Carter was and i never thought that could happen. Congratulations to the Kenyan for the hose job. Mission accomplished loser
Are you sure he's not really a socialistmooslimfascist? Get a life.
I guess any black man is a pig to you, and you have enough inside info or know him enough to judge, Maybe you have the skills to be the President. Or just maybe you don't know $hit. Just look at your Logo, one of those me Generation Sissy's
I did not like GW Bush, but I respect the office he held When you start to learn how much you don't know, maybe you will start Learning.