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."
