U.S. military staff face Colombia misconduct probe - Yahoo! NewsA sex scandal involving Secret Service agents on US President Barack Obama's trip to Colombia widened Saturday when American soldiers on the visit were also linked to the use of prostitutes.
Eleven members of the service, known for their robust handling of security for senior members of the US government, were suspended and sent home following allegations of misconduct in the resort city of Cartagena.
Five US military personnel are also being investigated for behavior said to have taken place at the same hotel where the Secret Service staff were staying, and they have been taken off duty and confined to barracks.
Ronald Kessler, a former Post reporter and author of a book on the Secret Service, told CNN the scandal erupted when one of the agents "did not pay one of the prostitutes, and she complained to the police."
White House spokesman Jay Carney on Saturday told reporters that Obama had full confidence in the Secret Service.
Shortly after, a statement released by the US military's Southern Command, tasked with planning and operations in Central and Southern America, said five of its staff had been linked to the same misconduct claims in Cartagena.
Its commander, General Douglas Fraser, was quoted to be "disappointed by the entire incident and that this behavior is not in keeping with the professional standards expected of members of the United States military."
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