Secret Service clearances yanked in Colombia probe

Eleven Secret Service members have had their security clearances yanked during an investigation into allegations that they brought prostitutes to a Colombian hotel before a presidential visit to the country, government officials with knowledge of the investigation said Monday.

The agents and officers involved range in experience from relative newcomers to nearly 20-year veterans, and all have been interviewed at least once, two government officials with knowledge of the probe told CNN. Their security clearances could be reinstated if they are cleared, the officials said.

The Secret Service members and at least five U.S. military personnel are accused of bringing several prostitutes to their Cartagena hotel ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to the Summit of the Americas over the weekend. Speaking at the end of the summit on Sunday, Obama called for a "thorough" and "rigorous" investigation into the allegations.

The Pentagon said Monday that more service members than initially believed were involved in misconduct. And Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the incident distracted attention "from what was a very important regional engagement for our president."

"So we let the boss down," Dempsey said. He said he and other military leaders "were embarrassed by what occurred in Colombia, though we are not sure exactly what it is."

Pentagon spokesman George Little could not say how many more military personnel might be involved. But he indicated the personnel might come from more than one branch of the military. Pentagon officials had originally thought only Army personnel were involved.

"We believe there may be more than five," Little said Monday. All were expected to return to the United States on Monday.

Although Little would not specify the alleged misconduct of the military personnel, U.S. officials have said they are looking into allegations the personnel were involved in heavy drinking and engaging prostitutes. The military is specifically looking into whether the personnel had prostitutes in their hotel rooms and violated their military curfew.

Little said the personnel were not directly involved in presidential security and did not have any contact with Obama. He defined their role as in "support" of the Secret Service.

Because presidential security was the overall mission, however, it is not clear whether the Pentagon will ever publicly describe what the military personnel were doing as part of their work in Colombia or what branches of the military they belonged to.

An officer who was already in Colombia gathered initial facts, according to Little. A more senior officer was leaving for Colombia on Monday to continue the investigation.

The original five personnel were not identified by name. On Saturday, U.S. Southern Command announced the investigation and said the personnel were restricted to their hotel rooms when not performing their duties.

The alleged misconduct occurred before Obama arrived in Cartagena.

"We're representing the people of the United States, and when we travel to another country, I expect us to observe the highest standards," Obama said Sunday. "Obviously, what's been reported doesn't match up with those standards."

Still, he cautioned, "I'll wait until the full investigation is completed until I pass final judgment."

Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, was briefed on the matter and said Saturday that the government personnel brought prostitutes back to their rooms Wednesday night, and "one of the women did not leave the room in the morning."

A hotel manager tried to get in the room, and eventually the woman emerged and said "they owed her money," according to King. Similarly, U.S. government sources said there was a dispute between at least one Secret Service member and a woman brought to his hotel over a request to be paid.

At least one of the women brought to the hotel talked with police, and complaints were filed with the U.S. Embassy, the sources said.

"The Secret Service saw that report, and they immediately began an investigation," King said.

Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said the agents were relieved of duty Thursday, before the president's arrival in Colombia, and replaced after "allegations of misconduct."

The agency's assistant director, Paul Morrissey, noted his agency's "zero tolerance policy on personal misconduct."

"This incident is not reflective of the behavior of our personnel as they travel every day throughout the country and the world performing their duties in a dedicated, professional manner," Morrissey said Saturday. "We regret any distraction from the Summit of the Americas this situation has caused."