President Barack Obama on Sunday called for a “thorough” and “rigorous” investigation into accusations involving Secret Service agents paying for prostitutes in Colombia while attending the Summit of the Americas. About 11 Secret Service agents and officers are under investigation over preliminary findings that they allegedly brought back several prostitutes to a hotel in Cartagena, U.S. government sources familiar with the investigation told CNN. President Obama said, “What happened here in Colombia is being investigated by the director of the Secret Service. I expect that investigation to be thorough and I expect it to be rigorous. If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, then of course I’ll be angry.”
The agency reported that the alleged misconduct occurred prior to President Obama’s arrival in Cartagena. The Secret Service personnel have been sent back to the United States and put on administrative leave. According to the U.S. military, five U.S. troops working with the Secret Service are also under investigation for missing curfew and alleged “misconduct” at the same Colombian hotel. President Obama said, “We’re representing the people of the United States and when we travel to another county I expect us to observe the highest standards. Obviously what’s been reported doesn’t match up with those standards.” Cautioning a verdict, the president said, “I’ll wait until the full investigation is completed until I pass final judgment.”
