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Obama secret agents sent home after one is found drunk in Amsterdam hotel Obama secret agents sent home after one is found drunk in Amsterdam hotel
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Three American secret agents were sent home from the Netherlands just before Barack Obama's arrival after one agent was found inebriated in an Amsterdam hotel, the US secret service said Three American secret agents were sent home from the Netherlands just before Barack Obama's arrival, after one agent was found inebriated in an Amsterdam hotel, the US secret service said.
The three agents were returned to the US on Sunday for "disciplinary reasons," secret service spokesman Ed Donovan said on Tuesday, declining to elaborate. Donovan said the incident occurred before Obama's arrival in the country on Monday and did not compromise the president's security in any way. The three agents were returned to the US on Sunday for "disciplinary reasons", secret service spokesman Ed Donovan said on Tuesday, declining to elaborate. Donovan said the incident occurred before the president's arrival in the country on Monday and did not compromise his security in any way.
But the incident represents a fresh blemish for an elite agency struggling to rehabilitate its reputation following a high-profile prostitution scandal and other allegations of misconduct. An inspector general's report in December concluded there was no evidence of widespread misconduct, in line with the service's longstanding assertion that it has no tolerance for inappropriate behaviour.But the incident represents a fresh blemish for an elite agency struggling to rehabilitate its reputation following a high-profile prostitution scandal and other allegations of misconduct. An inspector general's report in December concluded there was no evidence of widespread misconduct, in line with the service's longstanding assertion that it has no tolerance for inappropriate behaviour.
The agents sent home from Amsterdam were placed on administrative leave, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the disciplinary action. The newspaper said all three were on the counter-assault team, which defends the president if he comes under attack, and that one agent was a team leader.The agents sent home from Amsterdam were placed on administrative leave, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the disciplinary action. The newspaper said all three were on the counter-assault team, which defends the president if he comes under attack, and that one agent was a team leader.
One agent was discovered highly intoxicated by staff at a hotel, who reported it to the US embassy, said a person familiar with the situation, who wasn't authorised to discuss the alleged behaviour on the record and demanded anonymity. The other two agents were deemed complicit because they didn't intervene despite being in a position to assist the drunken agent, the person said. One agent was discovered highly intoxicated by staff at a hotel, who reported it to the US embassy, said a person familiar with the situation, who was not authorised to discuss the alleged behaviour on the record and demanded anonymity. The other two agents were deemed complicit because they failed to intervene despite being in a position to assist the drunken agent, the person said.
"It wasn't like a big, crazy party," the person said."It wasn't like a big, crazy party," the person said.
Obama arrived in the Netherlands early on Monday on the first leg of a week-long, four-country trip. He departed for Brussels on Tuesday night, and there were no known security issues during his stay in the Netherlands.Obama arrived in the Netherlands early on Monday on the first leg of a week-long, four-country trip. He departed for Brussels on Tuesday night, and there were no known security issues during his stay in the Netherlands.
Before Obama travels anywhere abroad, a slew of secret service and other government officials are dispatched in advance to prepare the intense security operation needed to protect the president in unfamiliar territory. Typically, counter-assault teams travel with the president in his motorcade and if he came under fire, the team would be called upon to engage any attackers while the president was hustled to safety.Before Obama travels anywhere abroad, a slew of secret service and other government officials are dispatched in advance to prepare the intense security operation needed to protect the president in unfamiliar territory. Typically, counter-assault teams travel with the president in his motorcade and if he came under fire, the team would be called upon to engage any attackers while the president was hustled to safety.
Stricter rules implemented in the wake of a prostitution scandal involving secret service agents in Colombia bar agents from drinking alcohol within 10 hours of starting a shift. It's unclear whether the other two agents were drinking heavily or what time any of them would have been expected to show up for a shift. Stricter rules implemented in the wake of a prostitution scandal involving secret service agents in Colombia bar agents from drinking alcohol within 10 hours of starting a shift. It is unclear whether the other two agents were drinking heavily or what time any of them would have been expected to turn up for a shift.
The secret service's reputation for rowdy behaviour was reinforced in April 2012 in the runup to another Obama foreign trip, this one in the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena, in Colombia, where 13 agents and officers were accused of carousing with female foreign nationals at a hotel where they were staying before Obama's arrival. The secret service's reputation for rowdy behaviour was reinforced in April 2012 in the runup to Obama's visit to the Caribbean resort of Cartagena in Colombia, where 13 agents and officers were accused of carousing with female foreign nationals at a hotel where they were staying before the president's arrival.
After a night of heavy partying in bars and clubs, the employees brought women, including prostitutes, back to their hotel. Six of the employees eventually resigned or retired, while others had their security clearances revoked or were removed from duty. After a night of heavy partying in bars and clubs, the agents and officers brought women, including prostitutes, back to their hotel. Six later resigned or retired, while others had their security clearances revoked or were removed from duty.
Seeking to turn a page on that chapter in the service's famed history, Obama last year named veteran secret service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's first female director and signalled his desire to change the culture at the male-dominated service. Less than a year later, two additional officers were removed from Obama's detail following allegations of sexual misconduct that came to light after an incident at a hotel next to the White House.Seeking to turn a page on that chapter in the service's famed history, Obama last year named veteran secret service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's first female director and signalled his desire to change the culture at the male-dominated service. Less than a year later, two additional officers were removed from Obama's detail following allegations of sexual misconduct that came to light after an incident at a hotel next to the White House.
A 145-page report issued late last year by the homeland security department inspector general determined there was no evidence of widespread misconduct within the secret service. Following the South American prostitution scandal, the agency put new procedures in place, including a ban on bringing foreign nationals to hotel rooms where agents and officers are staying.A 145-page report issued late last year by the homeland security department inspector general determined there was no evidence of widespread misconduct within the secret service. Following the South American prostitution scandal, the agency put new procedures in place, including a ban on bringing foreign nationals to hotel rooms where agents and officers are staying.