The New York Daily News by Rich Schapiro - April 14, 2012
The bawdy bodyguards were relieved of duty because of accusations involving sex workers in Cartagena, Colombia, the site of a summit of more than 30 world leaders.
A dozen Secret Service agents assigned to protect President Obama in Colombia were sent home amid allegations that at least one of them was found cavorting with prostitutes. The bawdy bodyguards were relieved of duty because of accusations involving sex workers in Cartagena, Colombia, the site of a summit of more than 30 world leaders, the Associated Press reported. “There have been allegations of misconduct made against Secret Service personnel” in the Colombian port city, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said, refusing to confirm that prostitution was involved. But Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, told the Washington Post the accusations relate to at least one agent having involvement with prostitutes in Cartagena. Donovan said the incidents in question occurred before the President’s arrival Friday night. The scandal marks a major black eye for the White House — and threatened to overshadow Obama’s economic and trade agenda at the Summit of the Americas. The White House had no comment. Obama was attending a leaders’ dinner Friday night at Cartagena’s historic Spanish fortress. He was set to hold meetings with regional leaders Saturday and Sunday. The accused agents had been shipped back to their permanent places of duty. They were being replaced by other agency personnel, 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. It was not the first time members of Obama’s security detail landed in hot water. Last November, a federal agent with the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security was charged with second-degree murder after shooting a man during a dispute outside a McDonald’s in Hawaii. The agent, Christopher Deedy, was off-duty at the time, but was on the island to do security work in advance of Obama’s trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. In August, an off-duty Secret Service agent was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Decorah, Iowa, where he was helping arrange security for Obama’s bus trip through three Midwestern states, the Washington Post reported. The agent, Daniel Valencia was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for time served, and a fine of $1,250. With News Wire Services rschapiro@nydailynews.com
A dozen Secret Service agents assigned to protect President Obama in Colombia were sent home amid allegations that at least one of them was found cavorting with prostitutes. The bawdy bodyguards were relieved of duty because of accusations involving sex workers in Cartagena, Colombia, the site of a summit of more than 30 world leaders, the Associated Press reported. “There have been allegations of misconduct made against Secret Service personnel” in the Colombian port city, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said, refusing to confirm that prostitution was involved. But Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, told the Washington Post the accusations relate to at least one agent having involvement with prostitutes in Cartagena. Donovan said the incidents in question occurred before the President’s arrival Friday night. The scandal marks a major black eye for the White House — and threatened to overshadow Obama’s economic and trade agenda at the Summit of the Americas. The White House had no comment. Obama was attending a leaders’ dinner Friday night at Cartagena’s historic Spanish fortress. He was set to hold meetings with regional leaders Saturday and Sunday. The accused agents had been shipped back to their permanent places of duty. They were being replaced by other agency personnel, 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. It was not the first time members of Obama’s security detail landed in hot water. Last November, a federal agent with the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security was charged with second-degree murder after shooting a man during a dispute outside a McDonald’s in Hawaii. The agent, Christopher Deedy, was off-duty at the time, but was on the island to do security work in advance of Obama’s trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. In August, an off-duty Secret Service agent was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Decorah, Iowa, where he was helping arrange security for Obama’s bus trip through three Midwestern states, the Washington Post reported. The agent, Daniel Valencia was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for time served, and a fine of $1,250. With News Wire Services rschapiro@nydailynews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment