Prostitution Scandal: 5 Members Of U.S. Military Accused Of Misconduct At Same Hotel As Secret Service

CARTAGENA, Colombia -- The U.S. military says five service members supporting the Secret Service in advance of President Barack Obama's visit may have been involved in inappropriate conduct and have been confined to quarters. Obama is in Colombia for a Summit of the Americas.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the incident with the military personnel stems from the same episode involving about a dozen members of the Secret Service who were called back to the U.S. for an investigation into possible misconduct.

Carney referred questions about the episode, which includes allegations that U.S. personnel procured prostitutes, to the Secret Service and to the military.

Carney said the president retains confidence in the Secret Service and said the incidents under investigation, which preceded Obama's arrival, had no impact on presidential security.

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Comments

[daeofmylife]

12:37 PM on 04/26/2012

Should the U.S. decriminalize prostitution? Go to this link to express your opinions https://www.research.net/s/PQ8W8ZK

[Janet Conroy]

02:17 PM on 04/19/2012

Consistently, high ranking men in public trust situations risk/lose all for random sex. The list of politicians is endless from JFK, Anthony Weiner, Schwarzenegger, Hart,Edwards, Craig, the list is seemingly endless (right & left)...and these are just the ones who get caught. The answer seems to be that men are hardwired to high risk behavior for sex or even the possibility of sex. But why doesnt this stop? DO they not have any capacity for thought? I could argue I am hardwired to eat ice cream all day cause it tastes sooo good, but I dont do it because it is wrong and the consequences are awful. We are not talking full on love affairs here ( which maybe I could more easily understand), just random sex with protitutes or women of no substance usually. I dont want any rude nonsense, but can anyone give me a better explanation of this idiocy??

[El Chicovzlano]

09:40 AM on 04/17/2012

Now! i don't think that the real issue is the prostitution, like an earlier post; prostitution in Colombia is legal in other words it is allowed to enjoy that service, What difference make when a Senator does that in Las Vegas? yesis a diffrenece because in Colombia is legal means you can do it. Now in other hands this guys if there are married they most deal with some issues back home. Otherwise if they are single, is their choice how to enjoy they privite life. What we need to really see if their action could jepardize the President visit, that is what we need to see, the security issue not the prostitution.

[rodjard]

09:35 PM on 04/16/2012

I was in the hospital at Ft Campbell, Ky. recovering from the mumps.
The USO brought in whole bus loads of female volunteers to
visit and cheer up the soldiers there. These were not prostitutes, but
real girls wanting to meet G.I.' s Many of whom were injured brought in
from Vietnam. We really were in captivity there. however I don't
remember any complaints.
There is something to be said about raising troop moral, but prostitution
isn't really necessary in this day and age of womens liberation.

[jpostiga]

05:23 PM on 04/16/2012

A lot of the comments are abhorrent on this page! Well, prostitution is legal in Cartagena...AND??Are we so morally bankrupt as a country that we are a ok with prostitution, or are people so blazing stupid that they don't know what the life of a prostitute entails?? I'm sick reading these comments about,"it's their off time", "it's been done before so whatever." Do you really even think prostitutes make the money that they "work" for. They go to the fat cats; the pimps that OWN them and abuse and murder them from time to time. Statistics show that upwards of 90% of prostitutes were abused as girls. We don't know if these 5 guys are guilty yet, but any man that would even make this a viable income stream should be made an example of, for he is depraved boy. A real man protects the dignity of a woman, even when she chooses a path of destruction for herself.

[Janet Conroy]

02:19 PM on 04/19/2012

Well said on every count!

[phal4875]

04:52 PM on 04/16/2012

This is encouraging. It shows that the Secret Service and the military are willing to work together for the good of our nation. Perhaps this episode taught them something about sharing, too.

[Mary Thompson]

02:29 PM on 04/16/2012

Again! Prostitution is legal in Cartagena. "Adult prostitution is legal in designated 'tolerance zones,' but enforcement of, and restriction to, the zones remained difficult. Prostitution was widespread and exacerbated by poverty and internal displacement. Sex tourism existed to a limited extent, particularly in coastal cities such as Cartagena and Barranquilla, where marriage and dating services were often fronts for sexual tourism. The law prohibits organizing or facilitating sexual tourism and provides penalties of three to eight years' imprisonment. Trafficking in women for sexual exploitation continued to be a problem."

US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Colombia," www.state.gov, Feb. 25, 2009

[GoodDog0325]

03:30 PM on 04/16/2012

I don't think that the legality of prostitution here is in question. What is your point? That they should be able to partake in an legal activities, wherever they happen to be assigned?

They still have to abide by the rules for their department.

[Mary Thompson]

04:39 PM on 04/16/2012

My point is obvious. Off-duty, yes. Again - it's not illegal in Colombia.

[LAMONT17]

01:04 PM on 04/16/2012

WHO DOES THE "SECRECT SERVICE" THINK THEY ARE ? THE "GSA" !

[treasuredtrophie]

07:53 AM on 04/16/2012

Blame Obama if he stayed home for one than a day these guys could use Made in America Hookers.
But OB always on the road.

[IrisMozenter]

09:05 AM on 04/16/2012

Yes, it's called being the President. At the Summit of the Americas, 33 of the hemisphere's 35 leaders will gather to discuss pressing issues.

In your mind, it's better for him to stay at home and watch television choking on pretzels like Bush, right?

[TroopAbn]

07:41 AM on 04/16/2012

Anyone read the book, "Moscow Station"? Many years ago the U.S. Ambassador in Russia thought it would be good to show the Russian people how nice the Americans were. He let them hire many russian civillians to work in our embassy and interact with our folks. Well, the KGB thought this was a good idea as well. They also knew the the U.S. Marines were on un-accompanied tours! So when the ads went in the newspapers, the Russian civillians went applying. Well, I guess we only hired the best looking. Turned out they were KGB agents. The gals applied all their trades and the Marines melted like butter. Next thing you knew, they where blackmailing them unless they would help with photos/documents. The only one that was hung out to dry in the end was a Lance CPL from Oklahoma. I think his name was Clayton Lonetree (Indian). Maybe 25 years in Leavenworth. I think the Ambassador should have been there with him!

[thecrewof46]

05:49 AM on 04/16/2012

if your going to play then you must pay. end story.

[genebo6]

05:01 AM on 04/16/2012

They did nothing more than Congress does. Congress does it to us

[roosterjcogburn]

01:19 AM on 04/16/2012

Why not legalize prostitution isn't that something both dems and rep can agree on,thats women's and men's reproductive rights,consent with both parties.Porn would become Useless!

[rebel36]

03:38 PM on 04/17/2012

As perverted as that is...

Its terribly true....

[huckjames1]

12:53 AM on 04/16/2012

I've heard so many comments about why is their (Secret Service) conduct in question since they were off duty. WELL, how about it is against the rules and illegal? If I smoke some dope on my off time and get pinched on a random urinalysis at work; I lose my job. I don't buy the "it was their time off" cop out.

[Otherday]

11:02 PM on 04/15/2012

When the members of our armed services are off duty, their time belongs to them. That's American tradition. That's why it is called "Liberty" by some. Were they on duty or off? Or do the American people own those service members' members 24/7? Is it our right to micromanage their sex lives? They're kinda like our armed slaves? If they get their legs blown off or fill a body bag that is fine, but we can't permit them have an intimate life of their own? If so, maybe all future recruits should be informed of this new way of oversight.

[Blak]

01:12 AM on 04/16/2012

Incorrect on so many levels. These folks were part of the POTUS support team. Once they arrive in-country, they are considered to be "on-duty" even when they are not on shift. One simple reason being that the mission could change at any minute and they might be required to be back in uniform and on their duty section within 30 to 45 minutes. A change in the security threat in that location or even a skirmish in a different part of the world ( Iran/Israel) might totally change the mission timing/parameters and these service members might be required to be on a flightline loading stuff onto a C-17 and with take off just 30 mins away.

[January Day]

08:10 AM on 04/16/2012

Then you must support the US Marine, Gary Stein, for his remarks he made on his "liberty" time on facebook. Or, are you NOT in his court? You being a Liberal, I am sure your double standards kicked in~