Secret Service revokes security clearances of 11 accused of misconduct

(CBS/AP) WASHINGTON - The Secret Service has revoked the top secret security clearances for all 11 agents and officers accused of misconduct during a presidential mission to Colombia over the weekend.

The Secret Service personnel were sent back to the U.S. through Miami and interviewed in Washington regarding the alleged hiring of prostitutes and other misconduct. They have been placed on paid administrative leave and barred from entering Secret Service facilities worldwide unless summoned.

"They are 'do no admit' and their equipment has been taken," a law enforcement official told CBS News correspondent Norah O'Donnell.

Many of the agents based at the Secret Service's Miami field office. The office's agent-in-charge met returning agents at the airport and handed them their administration leave notifications, CBS News has learned.

Two Secret Service supervisors were among the 11 involved. A top official confirms that the group also included three members of the Counter-Assault Teams, a unit which includes snipers and SWAT teams meant that support the president's personal protection detail.

Secret Service officials are rejecting a Wall Street Journal suggesting there is a larger cultural problem at the agency known as "Wheels down, rings off."

"That's not true," a top law enforcement official said. "We hold employees to a high standard. This incident was an anomaly."

Separately Monday, the Pentagon said that at least 10 members of the U.S. military are under investigation for the alleged inappropriate -- not just the five announced over the weekend.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said Monday that he could not provide a specific number, but that military members who are being investigated were assigned to support the U.S. Secret Service in preparation for President Barack Obama's visit to Cartagena. He said they were not directly involved in presidential security.

At least one member of each service branch was involved, CBS News has learned. All of the accused were returning to the U.S. Monday, and the military said they would not be assigned to future presidential travel until the investigation is over.

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A defense official told CBS News correspondent David Martin that it looks like "more than 10" U.S. military personnel could be involved.

The Secret Service sent 11 of its agents home from Colombia amid allegations that they had hired prostitutes at a Cartagena hotel.

The U.S. Southern Command had announced on Saturday that five service members assigned to the presidential mission in Colombia had violated curfew and may have been involved in "inappropriate conduct."

[JustSayin123]

We invest a huge amount of money in training these folks. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, I'd be more inclined to reduce rank and transfer to a 'less favorable' post (and I'm sure there are plenty!). We always want to give them 'the Donald' treatment ("You're Fired!"). Seems foolish. There are better ways of handling it. That said, depending what they actually did/said, they may end up in the pokey.

[AOCGUY]

Well I tend to agree with you and this is how I am sure this will play out. Despite what the article said, they DID NOT have their clearances revoked, rather their access to classified has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. Should the investigation determine that some were blameless their access will be restored and life goes on. For those (if any) where guilt is determined then appropriate disciplinary action will be taken that could be anything from reprimand to dismissal. Solicitation of prostitutes constitues adverse information and can result in loss or downgrade of security clearance which clearly would affect whether they are eligible to hold a job with the Secret Service. Should they lose the ability to hold an appropiate clearance they then could be transferred to another directorate and governmental department or forced to retire.

[edwardkoe]

Drag them into Congress and give these fools a good shaming:

http://brianekoenig.com/2012/04/secret-service-prostitution-scandal-in-cartagena-colombia-continues/

[tinytexan]

The author of this article should be ashamed. This is so poorly written!

[kidfromnyc]

With unemployment as it is where would a qualified person get a job with the secret service,,,,they should be terminated ,,,any employment benefits like any other job should be severed and new people hired and trained,,,obviously they do not need to be doing a job where others
could ,,,would do it better ,,,they probably feel that they cannot be replaced,,,,and therefore are immune to termination

[grabmist]

If this happened under Bush it would be the media event of the year with all fingers pointing toward poor leadership and corruption trickling down through every pore of government. Ah, but it is now a democrat in office, so somehow the president and his hand-picked leadership have NOTHING to do with the performance and character of those around and under them... very iffy people. Look in the mirror now and then you lefties.

[voodoo81]

blah blah....If this happened under Bush it would be the media event of the year....blah blah...
Just worthless speculation. And now your upset that fingers are'nt pointing at Obama. What happened to we report you decide.

[LuciusDark]

One does not have the 'right' to a clearance. It was proper to put them on paid leave pending an investigation. I think this is typical of some law enforcement/security organizations where guns and male ego run rampant. The DoD has always had a problem with soldiers on leave visiting prostitutes. A few years back the DoD contractor Blackwater had a party in Iraq where several locals were raped and female contractors were groped while the male contractors danced around a fire nude.

[vette_man]

Fire them all....

[sweetpetie]

I'm apalled at the errors in grammar. Who proofread the article? There are some sentences that make no sense. Hmmm.

[soap-suds]

On any given day how many people in all types of employment are having sex with someone other than their spouses??? Why is this suddenly a major issue, even with the security question?? This is an employment issue not a national news issue. I wonder how many Members of Congress, or their staffers, are sleeping around tonight?? I believe our news media has gone nuts for lack of anything useful to report!!!

[superfly885]

Who cares... Really, who cares...