By IANS,
Washington : US President Barack Obama was never in danger because of a prostitution scandal involving Secret Service agents during a trip to Colombia, a top official said Wednesday.
Testifying at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said “there was no risk to the president” stemming from the scandal that took place in Colombia’s Cartagena, Xinhua reported.
An advance team of agents, in Colombia ahead of Obama’s attendance at the Summit of Americas, were accused of bringing prostitutes to their hotel. A total of 12 Secret Service members and 12 military personnel were probed. Nine Secret Service agents resigned and three have been cleared of misconduct.
Napolitano said the allegations were “inexcusable”, and added that a “thorough and full investigation” was under way.
She said the accused “have either faced personnel action or been cleared or serious misconduct”.
“We will not allow the actions of a few to tarnish the proud legacy of the Secret Service,” she said.