Secret Service Prostitution Scandal

[Guest EXPAT]

The Secret Service has a rare black eye after an unfolding scandal that allegedly has agents bringing prostitutes back to a hotel that had been secured for dignitaries in advance of President Obama's arrival in Columbia.

Frankly I couldn't care less if adult men hire escorts. But I'm sure this potentially has security issues when you don't exactly know who you are hiring.

Where do you stand on this issue? Frankly I think adults should be able to do what they want in their off time. . .

[Guest hitoallusa]

As long as they paid escorts out of their pockets then it should be fine. Secret service agents can be targeted by a spy or terrorist network but they mostly stay anonymous so as long as they don't brag about being secret service where is the harm.. I bet president won't have sex with these agents so it won't harm him either unless an escort carries a community disease that can spread among people working in confined area. They are human beings with needs so let it be.. As long as they didn't use us tax dollars I'm fine with it. I saw a secret agent of W Bush on YouTube and he was hot!! Those escorts make money and get to sleep with hot guys..

[Guest FourAces]

There are so many beautiful guys in Columbia I wonder if any of the hires were gay

Maybe firecate was their guide if so

[Guest hitoallusa]

They bragged about protecting Obama. They should not have done that no matter what..I think those expensive strong whiskey brought down their inhibition. Firing them is hard since they can sell what they know and they can go work for illegal businesses. Anyways, there were counter assault members in that group. If you go to DC during a dignitary visit they are the ones in a black uniform with big guns around the Capitol. I just wanted to faint in front of them so they can hold me in their arms and give me mouth to mouth.. I'll just blame on the hot summer weather in DC..

[RA1]

The SS is reputedly held to a standard that is rarely used, mentioned or enforced any longer but it was no "secret" when they signed up. One problem with "their off time" is they really don't have any in the ordinary sense. The job description clearly states that there will be a lot of over time which likely means being called to duty in the middle of the night or week-end, etc. I think it would be frowned upon to get loaded with alcohol during a "night off", nevermind doing most anything other than being available for duty.

Their "true" time off is likely to be a planned vacation which likely includes being incommunicado. Then, whatever they do that is "legal" is fine with me.

I am of the opinion that likely their careers are "ruined" although I am not sure they should be fired and not given a second chance. I would have to know all of the circumstances to have an opinion about firing them.

We all should take responsibility for our actions but some jobs demand it, at least more than others. As a corporate pilot, would you as a passenger be happy if I were up until midnight drinking booze with a 6 AM departure the next day? Not only would that be illegal, it would be unconscionable on my part.

Best regards,

RA1

[TampaYankee]

The SS is reputedly held to a standard that is rarely used, mentioned or enforced any longer but it was no "secret" when they signed up. One problem with "their off time" is they really don't have any in the ordinary sense. The job description clearly states that there will be a lot of over time which likely means being called to duty in the middle of the night or week-end, etc. I think it would be frowned upon to get loaded with alcohol during a "night off", nevermind doing most anything other than being available for duty.

Their "true" time off is likely to be a planned vacation which likely includes being incommunicado. Then, whatever they do that is "legal" is fine with me.

I am of the opinion that likely their careers are "ruined" although I am not sure they should be fired and not given a second chance. I would have to know all of the circumstances to have an opinion about firing them.

We all should take responsibility for our actions but some jobs demand it, at least more than others. As a corporate pilot, would you as a passenger be happy if I were up until midnight drinking booze with a 6 AM departure the next day? Not only would that be illegal, it would be unconscionable on my part.

Best regards,

RA1

You have this just about right. In a job like this there is no off-time only up-time and down-time. These guys are secret service and military on a presidential security mission. They represent the country while in-country on this mission. This is different from being home on an off weekend or after hours in the hometown or on vacation. Also, for me prostitution, per se, is not an issue. It may well be legal in Colombia for all I know. This was a security breach and a public relations disaster.

I suspect their careers are at an end too. While I ususally believe that off-work issues should rarely impact job status, that does not hold in this case for the reasons in the first paragraph. I would make the decisions on an individual basis but I suspect I'd fire all or many for sure.

Simply put, they compromised the mission both in security and political impact by their ill-considered behavior. Those caught up in it without direct culpabilibty would be spared but willing 'participant's would go as well as an immeidate supervisor or two who permitted the environment for such a lapse to occurr. Maybe more.

[MsGuy]

I am one of those doubting this is a one off event. No way 20 odd SS and MP types all spontaneously decided that humping ladies of easy virtue would be just the way to kill a little down time in Bogata unless precedents had already been set.

[MsGuy]

I just wanted to faint in front of them so they can hold me in their arms and give me mouth to mouth.. I'll just blame on the hot summer weather in DC..

Or the tight new shoes, Hito. You want to look your best for the hunks in black.

[Guest EXPAT]

They just got caught this time because one arrogant secret service man didn't want to pay the $46 bill that he was presented and it got ugly. They said on the Today Show that it was legal in Colombia.

[Guest hitoallusa]

Come on MsGuy if a pair of shoes could make me beautiful then I don't have to feign illness to be held by a hot hunk Sigh...

Or the tight new shoes, Hito. You want to look your best for the hunks in black.

[caeron]

I don't really care, though they should have known that in this prudish nation that others would and this wasn't going to stay a secret forever.

[JKane]

That they disclosed who they worked for and/or tried to get freebies because of it is inexcusable. Very unprofessional and even if they aren't fired I bet there's some anti-counterfeiting postings in the ass-end of nowhere with their names on them!

SS agents should be all about discretion. Scoring on the downlow is actually a pretty good test for that!

[lookin]

You don't suppose Dominique Strauss-Kahn set them up do you?

. . . . . .

.

[Guest hitoallusa]

Ex secret agents are always in demand.. They should be fine even though they get fired. It's likely they will be sent to a position with less security clearance at most or they voluntarily quit.

You have this just about right. In a job like this there is no off-time only up-time and down-time. These guys are secret service and military on a presidential security mission. They represent the country while in-country on this mission. This is different from being home on an off weekend or after hours in the hometown or on vacation. Also, for me prostitution, per se, is not an issue. It may well be legal in Colombia for all I know. This was a security breach and a public relations disaster.

I suspect their careers are at an end too. While I ususally believe that off-work issues should rarely impact job status, that does not hold in this case for the reasons in the first paragraph. I would make the decisions on an individual basis but I suspect I'd fire all or many for sure.

Simply put, they compromised the mission both in security and political impact by their ill-considered behavior. Those caught up in it without direct culpabilibty would be spared but willing 'participant's would go as well as an immeidate supervisor or two who permitted the environment for such a lapse to occurr. Maybe more.

[Suckrates]

The Secret Service has a rare black eye after an unfolding scandal that allegedly has agents bringing prostitutes back to a hotel that had been secured for dignitaries in advance of President Obama's arrival in Columbia.

Frankly I couldn't care less if adult men hire escorts. But I'm sure this potentially has security issues when you don't exactly know who you are hiring.

Where do you stand on this issue? Frankly I think adults should be able to do what they want in their off time. . .

Thats True, but if its on the Taxpayer dollar, not so true. If I withold paying my taxes, maybe I can use that money to hire MYSELF some hot escorts ?

[Guest hitoallusa]

One is allowed to retire, the other one resigned and one is allowed to hire a lawyer and challenge the decision. So none of them got punished. Private businesses will offer them good jobs too. What a great job! I sometimes think Tea Party has a point too..

[TampaYankee]

One is allowed to retire, the other one resigned and one is allowed to hire a lawyer and challenge the decision. So none of them got punished.

Odd idea of no punishment. I consider getting fired, forced resignation, and taking your employer to court all punishment. Not a hand slap, any of them.

They might find work with Blackwater or whatever it is called now but I doubt they will have a high profile job with a high profile publicly traded company any time soon.

[Guest hitoallusa]

Have you ever thought the word why "forced" is being used by the media repeatedly? It's just a publicity game played by the people who want this go away... But I understand their position to make this go away...

[Guest EXPAT]

The most important thing in this 10 Things Everyone Should Know About the Secret Service Prostitution Scandal is that ten Secret Service agents and eleven military members stand accused of bringing 21 women back to the hotel. So there was no sharing.