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Secret Service Pulls Agents From Detail for Drinking Secret Service Pulls Agents From Detail for Drinking
(about 11 hours later)
WASHINGTON — The Secret Service has sent home three of its agents who were in the Netherlands to provide security for President Obama’s trip there, according to senior law enforcement officials, citing “disciplinary reasons” in connection with the agents’ drinking.WASHINGTON — The Secret Service has sent home three of its agents who were in the Netherlands to provide security for President Obama’s trip there, according to senior law enforcement officials, citing “disciplinary reasons” in connection with the agents’ drinking.
One of the agents who was sent home was found passed out in a hallway, the officials said, adding that the agents were caught drinking before Mr. Obama arrived there this week for meetings with European allies.One of the agents who was sent home was found passed out in a hallway, the officials said, adding that the agents were caught drinking before Mr. Obama arrived there this week for meetings with European allies.
A spokesman for the Secret Service declined to provide further details about the episode.  The disclosure, first reported by The Washington Post, is the latest embarrassment for an agency whose agents’ behavior has been under scrutiny since April 2012. when several were caught with prostitutes in their hotel rooms during a presidential trip to Cartagena, Colombia. A spokesman for the Secret Service declined to provide further details about the episode.  The disclosure, first reported by The Washington Post, is the latest embarrassment for an agency whose agents’ behavior has been under scrutiny since April 2012, when several were caught with prostitutes in their hotel rooms during a presidential trip to Cartagena, Colombia.
After that scandal, the Secret Service imposed new guidelines and regulations in an attempt to crack down on agents’ behavior while they were traveling, particularly when they were abroad.After that scandal, the Secret Service imposed new guidelines and regulations in an attempt to crack down on agents’ behavior while they were traveling, particularly when they were abroad.
The agency ruled that “alcohol may only be consumed in moderate amounts” on the trips, and that agents were prohibited from drinking alcohol less than 10 hours before reporting for duty. Under the new guidelines, Secret Service employees were also prohibited from inviting foreigners to their rooms, other than hotel staff members and law enforcement counterparts.The agency ruled that “alcohol may only be consumed in moderate amounts” on the trips, and that agents were prohibited from drinking alcohol less than 10 hours before reporting for duty. Under the new guidelines, Secret Service employees were also prohibited from inviting foreigners to their rooms, other than hotel staff members and law enforcement counterparts.
And in an apparent attempt to clarify whether agents were allowed to spend time at strip clubs and brothels, a Secret Service memo was explicit: “Patronization of nonreputable establishments is prohibited.” The agency also created an “Inspection Hotline” for employees to report misconduct. Despite the negative attention from that event, the inspector general’s office for the Department of Homeland Security said in a December report that there was not widespread misconduct among Secret Service agents, and that the agency’s leadership had not “fostered an environment that tolerates inappropriate behavior.”And in an apparent attempt to clarify whether agents were allowed to spend time at strip clubs and brothels, a Secret Service memo was explicit: “Patronization of nonreputable establishments is prohibited.” The agency also created an “Inspection Hotline” for employees to report misconduct. Despite the negative attention from that event, the inspector general’s office for the Department of Homeland Security said in a December report that there was not widespread misconduct among Secret Service agents, and that the agency’s leadership had not “fostered an environment that tolerates inappropriate behavior.”
The agency dismissed many of the employees involved in the Cartagena episode, and in December — amid accusations that he had not stringently investigated the Secret Service’s scandals — the acting inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, Charles K. Edwards, resigned.The agency dismissed many of the employees involved in the Cartagena episode, and in December — amid accusations that he had not stringently investigated the Secret Service’s scandals — the acting inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, Charles K. Edwards, resigned.
According to the report, roughly 83 percent of the 2,575 agency employees who participated in a survey conducted by the inspector general said they were not aware of other employees who had behaved like those who were caught in Cartagena. It also said that 61 percent of those queried said they “believed management does not tolerate misconduct.”According to the report, roughly 83 percent of the 2,575 agency employees who participated in a survey conducted by the inspector general said they were not aware of other employees who had behaved like those who were caught in Cartagena. It also said that 61 percent of those queried said they “believed management does not tolerate misconduct.”
The inspector general’s office said that as part of its investigation it had interviewed more than 200 Secret Service supervisors and senior officials. According to a senior United States official, the inspector general’s office also reviewed five years of internal investigations.The inspector general’s office said that as part of its investigation it had interviewed more than 200 Secret Service supervisors and senior officials. According to a senior United States official, the inspector general’s office also reviewed five years of internal investigations.
Mr. Obama has been in Europe this week, working to persuade his European allies to support sanctions against Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and to help finance an economic recovery for Ukraine. He left the Netherlands on Tuesday for Brussels.Mr. Obama has been in Europe this week, working to persuade his European allies to support sanctions against Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and to help finance an economic recovery for Ukraine. He left the Netherlands on Tuesday for Brussels.