John Boehner: Secret Service Scandal Is A 'Black Mark'

WASHINGTON -- The Secret Service prostitution scandal is an embarrassment to the agency and the United States, House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday. But he stopped short of calling for an independent investigation.

"What I'm looking for are the facts," Boehner said. "I don't want to just jump out there and make noise just to be making noise. Let's get to the bottom of this."

The Ohio Republican told reporters that he wants all information to be gathered before decisions are made about who should be punished and what changes are needed in Secret Service policies.

"The scandal is a real black mark on the Secret Service and frankly on our country," he said.

A dozen personnel from both the Secret Service and the military who were in Cartagena, Columbia preparing for a visit by President Barack Obama are being investigated internally after allegations that some spent time with prostitutes. Officials have said up to 20 prostitutes were involved.

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Comments

[Iammadashell]

12:17 PM on 04/26/2012

The republicans and msm want the proverbial smoking gun, did the President know the SS were using prostitute and when did he know it.

[ernestvalerius]

03:30 PM on 04/25/2012

No one took the bait, sling again...

[flanardiente]

02:16 PM on 04/25/2012

Boehner was on the mark condemning those Secret Service agents involved in the prostitution scandal. Still, I marvel that someone as openly corrupt and in the pay of special interests as he is dares to condemn anyone. Of course, he's protected by his fellow Congresscrooks, to whom the law is traditionally plastic enough to cover their excesses while condemning everybody else's.

[kiksadi50]

02:01 PM on 04/25/2012

oh for criminy sake Repub.: castrate them and get it over with so we can move on.

[dax49]

01:59 PM on 04/25/2012

Kind of like the Senate Page Scandal was to him?

[truly moderate]

01:56 PM on 04/25/2012

Unlike the GSA, the GOP isn't requesting an independent investigation because the SS takes care of its own in removing "issues". 9 of the 12 problems are gone. R-King has worked strongly with the SS and taken accountability.

[Victor Zone]

10:24 AM on 04/28/2012

SS takes care of its own in removing "issues". 9 of the 12 problems are gone... great observation.
However, as per the media report there were Navy, Marines, Airforce, Secret Service participation indicating a wide spread problem. Who takes care of that breach, since the 2 day White House investigation found nothing out of place case closed.

[BoycottFox2]

01:11 PM on 04/25/2012

And he's a blacker mark.

[StopMakingSense2]

12:59 PM on 04/25/2012

So in other words they have joined your club!

[Cacey]

12:58 PM on 04/25/2012

This is soooo Boehner. Slur the entire group when a handfull were involved.

[Clevelandinwi]

12:54 PM on 04/25/2012

About a hundred more 'scandals' and it will approach the Republican party. I hope they don't try for the record.

[teatwerp]

12:54 PM on 04/25/2012

every single day since you took the position of speaker has been a black mark for teapublicants and our country

[Plymouth Pilgrim]

12:51 PM on 04/25/2012

I can't believe he didn't blame Obama like the Fox crowd is doing. When Fox started running the story, They mentioned Obama in every sentence they spewed.

[bran0217]

12:50 PM on 04/25/2012

House Speaker John Boehner stoped short because the Director and people under him were put in them postions by Bush

[Steve Rockett]

12:50 PM on 04/25/2012

It is a black mark John. Fire Peter King who is responsible for security of the president.

[LMKay66]

12:48 PM on 04/25/2012

Don't you have more important things to concentrate on, John?  Like controlling the tea party and creating jobs?