Three agents forced out of US Secret Service over prostitute scandal

 

Three US Secret Service agents have been removed from the agency in the wake of allegations that they were involved in hiring prostitutes ahead of an international summit in Colombia.


Barak Obama jogs from Air Force One surrounded by US Secret Service Agents. 

The scandal that has gripped Washington claimed its first careers on Wednesday as one supervisor was allowed to retire and another sacked, while a more junior uniformed officer resigned.

The sacked supervisor has 30 days to appeal and has threatening to sue the Secret Service over his dismissal, the New York Times reported.

A further eight agents have been suspended and had their security clearances removed pending an investigation.


All 11 of the men reportedly have reportedly been asked to polygraph tests as the US government struggled to contain a scandal that has caused major embarrassment for the White House.

The Secret Service has also reportedly widened its investigation beyond the events in Cartagena, Colombia, and is looking to see whether agents hired prostitutes on other occasions.

While the agency's director, Mark Sullivan, retains the support of the White House and key Congressional Republicans, Mitt Romney said he would "clean house" following the scandal.

The presumptive Republican nominee said: “The right thing to do is to remove people who have violated the public trust and have put their play time and their personal interests ahead of the interests of the nation."

Mr Romney, who receives Secret Service protection, said would not call for Mr Sullivan to resign and that the incident was "uncharacteristic of the Service".

Earlier in the day, the prostitute whose refusal to leave the agents' hotel sparked the scandal, spoke out for the first time.

She said that the Americans did not tell her they were Secret Service agents and had not revealed that they were protecting President Barack Obama.

She told the New York Times that one agent had promised to pay her $800 while out on a night of drinking but that in the sober light of the next morning only offered $35.

After hotel staff and local police came to the agent's room the Americans hastily agreed to give her around $225 and she left.

“This is something really big,” she said. “This is the government of the United States. I have nervous attacks. I cry all the time.”

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