Obama's secret service agents sent home after 'prostitution' probe

A dozen US Secret Service agents sent to Colombia to provide security for President Barack Obama at an international summit have been relieved of duty over alleged misconduct.

A caller who said he had knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the misconduct involved prostitutes in Cartagena, site of the Summit of the Americas. A Secret Service spokesman did not dispute that.

An unnamed US official put the number of agents sent home at 12 but the Secret Service did not disclose the number of personnel involved.

The incident threatened to overshadow Mr Obama's economic and trade agenda at the summit and embarrass the US. The White House had no comment, but also did not dispute the allegations.

In Washington, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan would not confirm that prostitution was involved, saying only that there had been "allegations of misconduct" made against Secret Service personnel in Cartagena for the summit.

He said the allegations of misconduct were related to activity before the President's arrival last night and did not impact on security plans for his trip.

Mr Obama attended a leaders' dinner at Cartagena's historic Spanish fortress last night and was due to attend summit meetings with regional leaders today and tomorrow.

The Washington Post reported that Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said the accusations related to at least one agent having involvement with prostitutes in Cartagena. The association represents federal law enforcement officers, including the Secret Service.

Mr Adler later told the AP that he had heard there were allegations of prostitution, but he had no specific knowledge of any wrongdoing.

The agents were staying at Cartagena's Hotel Caribe, which is also hosting members of the White House staff and press corps during the summit.

A hotel employee said the agents arrived at the beachfront hotel about a week ago and described them as drinking heavily during their stay.

The employee said the agents left the hotel on Thursday, a day before Mr Obama and other regional leaders arrived for the weekend summit.

The hotel's public relations chief had no comment.

Those involved had been sent back to their permanent place of duty and were being replaced by other agency personnel, Mr Donovan said. The matter was turned over to the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles the agency's internal affairs.

AP