Senate lawmakers are continuing investigations over the infamous prostitution scandal that implicated 12 Secret Service agents during a presidential assignment in Cartagena, Colombia. So far, eight Secret Service employees have lost their jobs, while the agency plans to permanently revoke the security clearance for one other employee. Senate lawmakers are continuing investigations over the infamous prostitution scandal that implicated 12 Secret Service agents during a presidential assignment in Cartagena, Colombia. So far, eight Secret Service employees have lost their jobs, while the agency plans to permanently revoke the security clearance for one other employee.

The debacle ignited after Secret Service agents were deployed in Cartagena, Colombia for an assignment to carry out security preparations ahead of a summit visit by President Obama. A dozen agents were recalled to the U.S. after allegations were made that at least one agent had some involvement with a prostitute in Cartagena, where prostitution is legal.

"One of the agents did not pay one of the prostitutes, and she complained to the police," said Ronald Kessler, a former Washington Post reporter and author of a book on the Secret Service. "This is clearly the biggest scandal in secret service history.”

Soon after the narrative unfolded, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) indicated that the scandal was part of a disturbing “pattern of behavior,” and that the agency would have to enact serious measures to restore its reputation with lawmakers.

Click here to read the entire article.

Photo: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) right, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) listen as U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan and the Department of Homeland Security's acting Inspector General Charles K. Edwards testify before committee, May 23, 2012: AP Images