All 11 of the men reportedly have reportedly been asked to polygraph tests as
the US
government struggled to contain a scandal that has caused major
embarrassment for the White House.
The Secret Service has also reportedly widened its investigation beyond the
events in Cartagena, Colombia, and is looking to see whether agents hired
prostitutes on other occasions.
While the agency’s director, Mark Sullivan, retains the support of the White
House and key Congressional Republicans, Mitt Romney said he would “clean
house” following the scandal.
The presumptive Republican nominee said: “The right thing to do is to remove
people who have violated the public trust and have put their play time and
their personal interests ahead of the interests of the nation.”
Mr Romney, who receives Secret Service protection, said would not call for Mr
Sullivan to resign and that the incident was “uncharacteristic of the
Service”.
Earlier in the day, the prostitute whose refusal to leave the agents’ hotel
sparked the scandal, spoke out for the first time.
She said that the Americans did not tell her they were Secret Service agents
and had not revealed that they were protecting President Barack Obama.
She told the New York Times that one agent had promised to pay her $800 while
out on a night of drinking but that in the sober light of the next morning
only offered $35.
After hotel staff and local police came to the agent’s room the Americans
hastily agreed to give her around $225 and she left.
“This is something really big,” she said. “This is the government of the
United States. I have nervous attacks. I cry all the time.”
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