WH: Obama has confidence in Secret Service chief

(CBS News) President Obama still has confidence in Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, in spite of the alleged prostitution scandal involving 11 Secret Service agents over the weekend, the White House said on Tuesday.

Sullivan "acted quickly and is overseeing an investigation as we speak into the matter," White House Spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

Mr. Obama is receiving updates about the incident from his staff, but he is not getting updates on the process of the investigation itself or any incremental pieces of information gleaned from the investigation, Carney said.

Sullivan briefed Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine on the probe Monday night, and Collins said that the agents responsible brought as many as 20 or 21 women back to a hotel in Cartagena, Colombia, ahead of Mr. Obama's visit to the city for a Latin American summit.

A defense official told CBS News that more than 10 military personnel are also being investigated for their involvement. Members of the military detail in question include two Marines, one member of the Air Force, two from the Navy and five from the Army.

The 11 Secret Service agents involved were placed on administrative leave and have had their security clearances revoked.

Carney said today that the agents responsible for protecting the president are "exemplary, as a rule."

"They put their lives on the line, and it's a very, very difficult job, and [Mr. Obama] acknowledges that and appreciates it," he said. "This incident obviously needs to be investigated, it is being investigated [and] we're not going to speculate about conclusions it might reach."

[franknkissy]

We have no reason to question the professionalism of Mr. Sullivan ! Any organization might have a rogue element unbeknowest to its chief - so again its the immoral actors in this ugly play that need to be punished - not the President and not the Head of the Secret Service !

[ectogestator]

The putative actions of everyone involved are horrendous. There needs
to be a penetrating probe, with no massaging the facts, and no
pandering. That will turn the trick. The Solicitor General will have
to be involved, with the key question involving protection. Hopefully
this will have a happy ending, and not go down as a stain anywhere.
What Deep Throat was to the Watergate scandal, some Tea Bagger may end
up being to this case.