23 agents, military implicated in scandal

WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- A total of 23 Secret Service and military personnel have been implicated in the prostitution scandal in Colombia, USA Today reported Saturday.

The report said six men have left the Secret Service following allegations they brought prostitutes to their hotel, before President Obama arrived for the Latin American summit. In addition, five others remain under investigation, USA Today reported. Another has been cleared of "serious wrongdoing," but still faces discipline.

The Pentagon is conducting its own investigation into the actions of 11 of its personnel, the newspaper said.

At the Secret Service, Assistant Director Paul Morrissey said, "Since these allegations were first reported, the Secret Service has actively pursued this investigation, and has acted to ensure that appropriate action is affected." Morrissey said, "We demand that all of our employees adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards and are committed to a full review of this matter."

The widening inquiry includes a review of agents and other personnel who had rooms at the Hilton Cartagena, where Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stayed, as well as the Hotel Caribe, where the 11 agents and 10 military officers implicated in the scandal had rooms.