Secret Service scandal prostitute pictured for first time

WASHINGTON - A top lawmaker briefed on the investigation into a Secret Service prostitution scandal said that more firings could be imminent following the ouster of three agency employees.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you saw more dismissals and more being forced out sooner rather than later," Rep. Peter King (R., N.Y.) said Thursday. King is being updated on the investigation by Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan.


"You may see a few more today or tomorrow," King added.


The Secret Service has moved quickly to quell the scandal that erupted late last week, when at least some of 11 agency employees implicated in the incident brought prostitutes back to their hotel in Cartagena, Colombia, where they were setting up security for a visit by President Obama.


So far, three people involved have lost their jobs. The service said Wednesday that one supervisor was allowed to retire, and another will be fired for cause. A third employee, who was not a supervisor, has resigned.


In Washington and Colombia, separate U.S. government investigations are under way. The Secret Service has investigators in Colombia, and King said he has assigned four congressional investigators to the probe. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.), sought details of the Secret Service investigation, including the disciplinary histories of the agents involved.


The woman, who reportedly has a nine-year-old son, eventually left with around $225 but by that point the US Embassy had become involved.
Three agents have been forced out already and of the remaining eight who have been suspended more are expecting to go.
One supervisor was allowed to retire and another sacked, while a more junior uniformed officer resigned.


News reported last identified the supervisor that was retired as David Chaney while the man sacked is reported to be Greg Stokes. Mr Stokes was recently in charge of the agency's canine division.

The prostitute spoke to the New York Times earlier in the week, saying that the Americans did not tell her they were Secret Service agents and had not revealed that they were protecting President Barack Obama.
“This is something really big,” she said. “This is the government of the United States. I have nervous attacks. I cry all the time.”