3 Secret Service agents leave posts over Cartagena prostitutes scandal
Prostitutes sit at an outdoor table February 21, 2001 in Peas Coloradas, Colombia.
Three Secret Service agents implicated in the prostitution scandal in Colombia would be leaving their posts, the agency announced Wednesday.
Agents, as well as military personnel, are alleged to have hired prostitutes in advance of President Barack Obama's recent trip to Cartagena to attend a summit of Latin American leaders.
CBS reported late today that two of the men removed from their positions were both supvervisors: David Chaney, who was allowed to retired, and Greg Stokes of the Canine Tranining Section, who was "removed with cause" and may appeal his dismissal.
More from GlobalPost: Letter from Colombia: Cartagena's last laugh
A third employee, who was not a supervisor, has also resigned. Eight other Secret Service personnel members remain under investigation. According to Reuters, Congressmen Darrell Issa and Elijah Cummings, the two top members of the House Oversight Committee, said that additional dismissals and resignations were likely in the coming days.
Meanwhile, separate investigations — including by the Pentagon — were under way, while investigators from the Secret Service's Office of Professional Responsibility were dispatched to Cartagena to interview witnesses.
At least some of the agents had undergone polygraph examinations, USA Today reported.
Investigators were also looking into reports of drug use, although they hadn't found any evidence yet, NBC quoted a source as saying.
More from GlobalPost: Obama calls for investigation into Secret Service prostitution scandal
The scandal erupted after 11 agents and at least 10 military service members allegedly brought as many 21 prostitutes to a hotel in Cartagena early the morning of April 12, after a night of drinking at a strip club.
A day after the dispute, the 11 Secret Service agents allegedly involved were summoned home by Washington and placed on administrative leave. On Monday they lost their security clearances.
"These are the first steps," the AP quoted Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, which oversees the Secret Service, as saying.
"It's certainly not over," he added
More from GlobalPost: Meet the people behind Turkey's 'miracle'
Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!