Obama: "I'll be angry" if Secret Service scandal is true

(AP) CARTAGENA, Colombia - President Barack Obama, speaking for the first time about allegations that Secret Service agents hired prostitutes, said Sunday that "of course I'll be angry" if those accusations are proven true by an investigation.

Obama said the agents represent the United States and are supposed to conduct themselves with the highest levels of dignity anywhere in the world. "Obviously, what's been reported doesn't match up to those standards," Obama said in a news conference wrapping his appearance at a Latin America summit.

The president never directly mentioned that the specific accusations, confirmed by media outlets, that agents were cavorting with prostitutes before the president arrived in Colombia.

The Secret Service sent 11 agents home and placed them on leave for misconduct as the agency reviews what happened.

"I expect that investigation to be thorough, and I expect it to be rigorous," Obama said. "If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, then of course I'll be angry. ... We are representing the people of the United States, and when we travel to another country, I expect us to observe the highest standards."

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The unseemly topic dogged Obama to the end in Colombia, where he fought to keep a focus on America's trade relations with partners throughout the Americas. And it is likely to follow him back to the United States as lawmakers in the Republican-led House consider whether to hold hearings.

When Obama took a question about the topic, he was standing next to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

Obama tried to put the controversy in context by lauding the agents who protect his life.

"These men and women perform extraordinary service on a day-to-day basis protecting me, my family, U.S. officials," Obama said. "They do very hard work under stressful circumstances and almost invariably do an outstanding job. So I'm very grateful."

He said he would reserve judgment until the investigation is done.

Five U.S. military service members were also alleged to have been involved in the incident.

The Secret Service agents at the center of the allegations had stayed at Cartagena's five-star Hotel Caribe. The 11 employees in question were special agents and Uniformed Division Officers. None were assigned to directly protect Obama.

The scandal probably is not an isolated incident, a leading House Republican said Sunday.

California Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of a House investigative panel, said he wasn't certain whether Congress would hold hearings on the misconduct. But lawmakers will be looking "over the shoulder" of the Secret Service, he said, to make sure that the agency's methods for training and screening agents aren't endangering the nation's VIPs.

"Things like this don't happen once if they didn't happen before," said Issa, who leads the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Appearing Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation," Issa said: "It's not about whether the president was in danger this time. It's whether or not you need to make changes so the American people can have confidence in all of their workforce."

[feduppeeps]

oh! there will a thorough investigation. I wonder why he didnt say there has to be a thorough investigation before he agreed
with all the media bs that the Z is guilty.

[ibsteve2u]

It is depressing to read the comments here by the members of the right and not only understand that they are only emulating the standards of their political leaders and the actions of the right's talking heads but know that this level of discourse is the HIGHEST we will see from the American right/Republicans until winter arrives.

On the bright side, the oncoming inundation of television broadcasting with the lies and and other displays of moral turpitude of the right-wing PACs and their media's talking heads may drive our kids outside to play a little baseball or otherwise enjoy the summer.

[Ceres6]

It seems that the only ones who were able to finish something in Cartagena were the American secret service agents. All the politicians from 34 countries that went there did not agree to anything. Thus, the same as the agents, they just spent the time drinking and playing with girls who had F in conduct.

[smittyc]

Stopped being fooled by the media about nonsense news. The last 3 years our leadership has handed out over 300 billion in direct foreign aid. The U.S. has a standing 50 billion they give away to other nations and the current leadership has added over 50 billion dollars to that number every year. Here at home they want to cut social security, medicare and raise taxes and then they will increase foreign aid. Wake up folks, who of us voted for them to give our money to other nations.

[Dragos111]

Seems like you are taking quite a risk these days if you become a soldier in the US military or someone on the Secret Service. Those are the only folks Obama and Holder want to go after.

[vsmit]

"proven by an investigation" . . . ***. You rush to judgment without facts on the Cambridge case and Zimmerman / Martin and yet here you decide to wait for the facts? Riiiiight.

[Zann-Zel]

Show me the quote where he said Zimmerman was guilty.....I'll wait.

[vsmit]

If I had a son, he would be just like Martin.

[ampsanne]

Hey, What the secret service does in their private lives doesn't matter to me. Why don't he jump all over Michelle for wasting our money on her trips?

[finkfurst4]

So Obama is angry about federal agents using prostitutes, but he isn't angry about federal agents imprisoning people for years without any charge or evidence, and torturing them!

[waassup]

I would suggest that Obama take the guys on a Costa Rica trip!

[teammember]

Obama you have the right to remain silent and resign.

[thechooch1]

teammember silly post,exactly how is this your President's fault?

[dj_chi]

And how does it exceed other scandals like Bush #1's tailhook scandal, for which he did not resign? Or Bush's lack of WMDs in Iraq, for which he and Cheney did not resign despite starting a war over them?