WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS/OIG) said Monday it will launch its own investigation into the Colombia Secret Service prostitution scandal.
Twelve United States Secret Service (USSS) agents were disciplined or lost their jobs following allegations that some brought back prostitutes to their Cartagena hotel rooms days before President Barack Obama's April 14 arrival in the city for a diplomatic summit.
Since the incident, the Secret Service has tightened its rules for employees operating overseas, banning them from bringing locals back to their hotel rooms or visiting seedy establishments.
The DHS/OIG's Congressional Affairs office said it had determined the Secret Service itself was in the best position to investigate the matter but it would now conduct its own review.
"In our oversight capacity, and in recognition that there were already USSS Office of Professional Responsibility investigators on the ground in Colombia, OIG determined that the USSS was best positioned to immediately initiate the investigation with the full understanding that they would keep OIG informed as the investigation progressed," the office said in a statement.
"During the past two weeks the USSS has been completely transparent and forthcoming with specific details and findings of their investigation.
"Last week, with the initial stages of the USSS internal investigation nearing completion, OIG notified the USSS of our intent to conduct a comprehensive review of this matter."
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said, "While I have confidence in Director Sullivan [USSS Director Mark Sullivan], I am pleased that the Inspector General is investigating these serious charges and the Secret Service's responses to them.
"It is always difficult for an organization to investigate and reform itself, which is why the OIG's involvement is so important and also why Senator [Joe] Lieberman and I are pursuing our examination as well."
