r 16, 2012 CBS: 11 Secret Service agents lose security clearances

pr 16, 2012

CBS: 11 Secret Service agents lose security clearances

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By Michael Winter, USA TODAY

Updated 11h 31m ago

CAPTION

By Fernando Vergara, AP

The 11 Secret Service agents and officers involved in the prostitution scandal ahead of President Obama's visit to Colombia have been stripped of their security clearances, CBS News reports.

All have been accused of misconduct, placed on administrative leave and barred from entering Secret Service facilities worldwide, CBS says, citing an unidentified law enforcement official. They also have surrendered their equipment.

The group includes two supervisors, plus three of the black-clad commandos from the Counter-Assault Teams, a "top official" told CBS.

Also, the Pentagon says a review of surveillance tapes at the Hotel Caribe in Cartagena has determined that more than five military personnel might have been involved in the misconduct, which allegedly involved the hiring of prostitutes. Col. Scott Malcom of the U.S. Southern Command would not specify how many more servicemembers were spotted, The Washington Post says.

A Pentagon official told CBS News that it looks like "more than 10" U.S. military personnel might have been involved.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news conference today that the nation's military leadership is embarrassed by the scandal.

"We let the boss down," he said. "I can speak for myself and my fellow chiefs: We're embarrassed by what occurred in Colombia, though we're not sure exactly what it is."