11 Secret Service forced to go on administrative leave after 'prostitution scandal'

Washington, Apr 15 (ANI): The US authorities have reportedly put 11 Secret Service employees on administrative leave for their misconduct in Colombia, where they were tasked with overseeing President Obama's security, who is on a trip to the South American country to attend the Summit of Americas conference.

According to Fox News, the agency's assistant director said that the employees were special agents and belonged to the Uniformed Division, but weren't assigned to protect Obama.

The move comes after the controversy regarding the US Secret Service agents' involvement in prostitution charges surfaced.

In addition, Colonel Scott Malcom, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Southern Command confirmed that 5 members of the US military, who were staying with the agents at the same hotel, reportedly violated a curfew set by their senior US defence official in the US embassy in Columbia, Bloomberg reports.

However, the agency did not divulge allegations, which included charges of involvement of prostitutes from Cartagena in Columbia, but expressed regret for any distraction the situation might have caused during the regional meetings of the conference.

The Secret Service agents, who were earlier sent to Cartagena, were called back after allegations of their misconduct surfaced, which included involvement of prostitutes as well.

Though the details of the alleged misconduct weren't disclosed, but Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President Jon Adler was reported to be certain about accusations of at least one agent being involved with prostitutes in Cartagena. (ANI)