The plot thickens in the Secret Service prostitution scandal, as a dozen employees have now been placed on administrative leave for misconduct in Colombia.
The agents were there working on security measures in advance of President Barack Obama’s trip to South America.
The agency’s assistant director says the employees were special agents and also Uniformed Division officers.
None of the officers in question were directly assigned to protect President Obama himself.
The agency did not disclose the nature of the allegations, however several sources have reported that the behavior in question involved the hiring of prostitutes.
Obama is in Colombia for the Summit of the Americas. The Secret Service says it regrets any distraction the situation has caused during the regional meetings.
Adding to the debacle is the fact that it now seems that at least five members of the U.S. military were involved as well.
Gen. Douglas Fraser, commander of the Southern Command, said in a prepared statement that he was “disappointed by the entire incident and that this behavior is not in keeping with the professional standards expected of members of the United States military.”
He said the military would conduct a probe and that the personnel involved would face appropriate punishment.
Meanwhile, military service members are under strict orders not to have contact with other individuals and will return to the United States after the completion of their mission at the summit.
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