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Government

Secret Service Chief to Step Down This Month

Feb. 1, 2013 11:59pm Jason Howerton

Secret Service Chief Mark Sullivan to Step Down This Month

Mark Sullivan, Director of the united States Secret Service, listens during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill May 23, 2012 in Washington, DC. Sullivan was called to testify about the recent prostitution scandal involving members of the Secret Service in Cartagena, Columbia prior to a visit by US President Barack Obama. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan announced his retirement Friday, bringing to a close a turbulent period for the law enforcement agency that included a South American prostitution scandal and a pair of White House gate-crashers.

In nearly seven years as director, Sullivan had to answer serious questions from lawmakers on two occasions about his employees’ actions on the job and off.

Last May, in testimony before Congress, Sullivan apologized for the conduct of Secret Service employees caught in a prostitution scandal in Colombia. Thirteen agents and officers were implicated after an agent argued with a prostitute over payment in a hotel hallway in Cartagena, Colombia.

The employees were in the Caribbean resort city in advance of President Barack Obama’s arrival for a South American summit in April. After a night of heavy partying in some of Cartagena’s bars and clubs, the employees brought women, including prostitutes, back to their hotel. Eight of those Secret Service employees were forced out of the agency, three were cleared of serious misconduct and at least two were fighting to get their jobs back.

The incident prompted Sullivan to issue a new code of conduct that barred employees from drinking within 10 hours of the start of a shift and from bringing foreigners to their hotel rooms

In 2009, Sullivan had to answer questions about how a pair of aspiring socialites talked their way into a state dinner at the White House. That the pair made it into the highly secured event was not only a violation of protocol but raised questions about how easily an unauthorized person could gain close access to the president and vice president.

“In this case, I fully acknowledge the proper procedures were not followed and human error occurred in the execution of our duties,” Sullivan told lawmakers after the incident.

Sullivan struck a similar tone in May when he apologized to lawmakers for the behavior of the Secret Service employees in Colombia, insisting that the incident was not indicative of a larger culture problem at the agency.

Sullivan’s retirement is effective Feb. 22. His replacement has not been announced.

In an internal message Sullivan sent to employees Friday, he said he was “extremely proud to have had the opportunity to work with the men and women of the Secret Service and represent an agency so deserving of its reputation as one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the world.”

Sullivan joined the Secret Service in 1983 after three years as a special agent in the Inspector General’s Office at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was appointed director in 2006.

Despite the scandals and questions from lawmakers, he maintained support from Obama, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and numerous lawmakers.

“I want to thank Mark Sullivan for nearly 30 years of service to our nation at the United States Secret Service, a tenure that saw the agency protect five first families including my own,” Obama said in a statement. “And since 2006, as director, Mark has led the agency with incredible dedication and integrity.”

Napolitano thanked Sullivan for his service. “His commitment to keeping our country and its top officials safe is unparalleled and his devotion to the mission of the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security has been unwavering,” she said in a statement.

In three decades with the Secret Service, Sullivan’s career took him to Detroit, Columbus, Ohio, and ultimately Washington, where he served on the security detail for President George H.W. Bush.

Sullivan, who is from a large Irish Catholic family, has been married to his wife, Laurie, for more than 20 years, and they have three daughters. He loves hockey and played in an adult league until a few years ago.

“If you were casting someone for the role of director of the Secret Service, he looks the part,” Sullivan’s former boss in the service’s Detroit division, James Huse, told the AP last year. “He’s a tall, handsome Irishman, with grey hair and the demeanor of a born leader.”

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Comments (56)

satotbs
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 3:34pm
PSST. This is classified info. Read it then forget it. The real reason all these people are leaving is because, remember no one is supposed to know this, so keep it on the down-low, is they were all notified that after a short skeet shooting training course at Camp David they were slated for state dept. posts in the Mideast. Remember don’t let this go public.

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neverending
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:03pm
Go while the going is good – before it all unravels. One need only hear that he has the yellow bellied coward’s support and old nafloppotano support and that should tell you all you need to know. Our government is completely and totally corrupt – no part untouched.

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- Independent4233
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:08pm
  Looking at this character gives me the creeps. But I can’t put my finger on why, since 99% of Obummer’s appointments do the same.
  
  He’s weird-looking enough to be an appointee to Obama’s supreme court.
  
  He’d be a nice addition to Kagen, Ginsberg, and Sotomayer, to round them out and give the group a look we haven’t seen since the aliens in the space bar in the old Star Wars movies.
  
  Report this comment
Southernsoul
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:02pm
He always had support from obama. How unlike the glorious leader to back someone of questionable character.

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:50am
I hope he has a happy retirement for all his years of service. I hope he will “secretly” join Americans to fight for justice with any and all proof he may have. I Hope some other loyal to him have his back. These are treacherous times, I’m sure he knows.

http://www.unlawfulpresident.com

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noslave
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:46am
with his learned experience in the obama crew??,and some help from “HONEST HARRY REID?”their opening a brothel in vegas?their both familiar with whores.

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TIMEBOMB
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:55am
I accepted director Sullivan’s resignation with a heavy heart since it was he who assigned my two favorite SS men to me. My stallions,Jack Hammer and Dick Smothers showered me repeatedly with protection and always had my back,especially Jack with his HUGE gun and I always felt safe in his muscular arms.
My old code name was rump rider and it was Jack who thought of it,his personal experience with me gave him a unique insight into the name that should be used for your magnificent gay Marxist ruler.

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- barber2
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:03am
  Your Magnificence : We always like to hear what is really going on in your administration whose ” transparency” is always being hidden by Valerie and the MSM .
  
  Report this comment
piper60
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:52am
Yet another rat deserting the ship. I cannot wait for Obummer to retire/get impeached.

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- neverending
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:04pm
  If only he could be impeached – something we can only dream of.
  
  Report this comment
term limits for congress
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:41am
I wonder which al qaeda operative will be tapped to replace Sullivan?

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- DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:26pm
  That would be funny if it weren’t true….
  
  Report this comment
SwampFoxHiggy
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:04am
so this makes like what? number 9 or 10 person of the administration to resign/retire? seems like they know something we don’t… or at least they think we haven’t figured it out yet….

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bigbear_awake
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:02am
http://www.impeachobamacampaign.com/video-obama-accused-of-staging-a-chemical-weapons-attack/

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thibx
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:01am
maybe oboma ask him to pick up young boys for him and he refused.

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- Fubared
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:11am
  Who knows. Imagine you had 30 years in and this regime came along to F with everything. Kudos to him for providing for the first 4 years of this mess.
  
  Report this comment
dublinthewagons
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 8:04am
Sullivan know more on bozo than anybody. He doesn’t like what is coming down the pike.
I personally couldn’t stand to be around the POS.pre. all the time either.

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NOBALONEY
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:08am
National Security is no longer the prime directive of U.S. intelligence. You have a Maoist in the White House. How do you think that happened? The CIA, FBI, and the Secret Service are only concerned with Protecting the Elite Political Class. As Rush Linbaugh has long stated. The poli-fluential have co-oped our national security and adopted an alien ideology that is “transforming” our nation. Glenn Beck gave us a dire prediction in the second year of Obama’s first term. “One day you’ll wake up, and you won’t recognize your country”. That day has passed.

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- barber2
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:10am
  NO: Agree. When one is awakened to NPR, that Democrat propaganda mouthpiece, announcing a morning music show dedicated to ” human activism,” you know that day has passed : little parrot, robot Trolls singing ” Barack Obama …hmmmm…..hmmmm ” Remember that bit ??
  
  Report this comment
BehindBlueEyes
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:24am
Rumor has it King Samir Shabazz has made the short list for the position.
The commie in chief wants only the crème de la crème to guard him and his comrades.

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- barber2
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 8:56am
  Will be worth watching to see who gets this position. Hope the Blaze does some informative research on ALL of Obama’s replacement people. Could tell a lot about his non-transparent plans for the next four years of Obama II. Awoke to our NPR station this morning which now has early morning music ” for human activism.” Human activism ??! What in hell is going on in America ….
  
  Report this comment
- BehindBlueEyes
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 9:16am
  @BARBER2
  America is in for some serious trouble in the next 4 years and probably beyond (that is if it survives). Soros/Obama are going to try to complete the fundamental transformation of America within the next 4 years. I’m sure they have a series of crises they are going to unleash to bring the entire system down. The goal is to destroy America and usher in the new world order.
  I’m afraid it is going to result in events the like of which this nation has never seen.
  Got to go, I’m headed to the gun range (I’m serious). Have a good one.
  
  Report this comment
- pavepaws
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 11:18am
  I’m sure the Black Caucus has suggestions.
  
  Report this comment
Gonzo
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:16am
It’s a shame that an organization that was so well respected for decades can fall from grace in such a short period of time. I guess you could say the same thing about the entire country though.

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- ICSPADES
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:29am
  Everyone should know that Morsi will soon need a place to go (hide) when Egypt burns. Won’t be long till Obama has a cabinet full of communist muslims. I thought that skank Napolitano would be leaving also. The African army will soon be the secret service here, hence all the training over there.
  
  Report this comment
sizzlinsexybeckster
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:24am
Enjoy your retirement Mark! How’s Desmond, David, Robo Cop, Oppey, Daniel and the others? Still being naughty eh? Have a fun time!!

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Margyt
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 2:46am
It will be interesting to see who BO chooses to replace him.

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:04am
  I think he replaces him with……..A used tampon from Moochelles dried orafice. It will do as good as job, and will no sucomb to female advances.
  
  Besides, what other kind of repelant than a substance that comes from her womb. That will cause even the harden Islamist to run screaming “The Horror, The Horror.”
  
  And the UN will accuse us of Chemical Warfare due to the eye burning and nasal scorching.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:20am
  Hi Darmok,
  
  You’re up early.
  
  Report this comment
SheepDogconfrontthewolf
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 1:12am
the purge begins

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- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:41am
  o crap…..i think i made two posts on the same topic cause the first one didnt seem to take…im gonna have to get used to this forum….sorry fellas
  
  i think my second one was better though….a bit more polished and the subtle humor just oozed….right?
  
  Report this comment
SheepDogconfrontthewolf
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 1:10am
purge of leaders ? hmmmmmmm hitler did this

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 2:14am
  Please do tell me how the chief of secret service stepping down, or being purged, would have ANYTHING to do with tyranny or our security
  
  Report this comment
- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 5:46am
  keaton you should pay more attention…every time osucka places an incompetent ******, hagel for example, or an american hating traitor like john kerry into a position of authority in our government, we move one step closer to the fundamental change he promised us…. osucka wont be happy until there are no more real americans in our government and thats why he is purging the military and top level government positions with america hating socialists and friends of islam….dude, its like you slept through the last four years….
  
  you may direct further questions to this address
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:10am
  Hi DieHippieDie,
  
  Your user name really cracks me up !!!! LMAO
  
  Report this comment
- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:47am
  haha thanks monk….its the first thing that popped into my head…i just joined tonight but ive been reading this site for a while….
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:06am
  Morning MONK, I’m finally up. I have to agree with you on DIEHIPPIEDIE’s site name. Looks like a refreshing and welcome addition.
  DIEHIPPIEDIE, Welcome, and is that name from the South Park episode?
  
  Report this comment
- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:30am
  haha it may be subliminally gadsen now that you mention it….thank you for the welcome….just think of me as a taller thinner eric cartman
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:30am
  KEATONC333 will be forever stuck on stupid. He always has to ask for explanations and is unable to figure these things out for himself.
  
  Report this comment
- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:33am
  it must have been subliminal gladsen…think of me as a taller thinner eric cartman….thank you for the welcome
  
  Report this comment
- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:35am
  yea gadsen i sussed out his type already….hes one of the easier variety of troll….the type that tries to make a point by asking a question while never really saying anythijng of his own….
  
  Report this comment
- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:39am
  yea gadsen…..his variety of troll is garden variety and easily managed….hes the type that asks questions intended to make some kind of hippie anti-point while never really saying anything of his own….kinda like a litttle drive by and giggle type of guy
  
  Report this comment
DieHippieDie
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:52am
nowhere in this article does it explain why hes stepping down…the AP goes to great lengths to explain the scandals that occured over a year and more ago….if he was stepping down because of them, he would have retired or been forced to when the dirty deeds happened not years later….this smacks of the further purging of law enforcement/military leaders who have crossed osucka in some way….he wont be happy until our entire government is filled with anti american hippies….he just cant abide real americans

hillary is gonna have a hell of a time purging the commies from the government when she takes over in four years….o wait

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- SheepDogconfrontthewolf
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 1:08am
  purge of leaders ?
  
  Report this comment
- BryanB
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 1:33am
  @DieHippieDie
  
  “Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan announced his retirement Friday”
  
  They are letting him retire………..
  
  Report this comment
- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 7:02am
  o ok bryan…because people in government are never forced to retire and politicians never lie….
  
  got it
  
  p.s.wheres the famous line about “i want to spend more time with my family”….something smells…and it aint moochelles hairy pits….well not this time
  
  Report this comment
Zeke48
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:30am
I think he served his country plenty. After 30 years of that job is like 60 years doing something else.

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Jake Dog2
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:26am
Would it have anything to do with prostitutes? Huuummmm maybe?

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- DieHippieDie
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:53am
  are you referring to democrat senator robert menendez and his proclivity for underage dominican hookers? or something else
  
  Report this comment
1947
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:12am
Why is this individual stepping down….? He LOVES Obama

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 4:10am
  Rat deserting a sinking ship.
  
  Get out now, while he can still get a reitrement.
  
  Basically, he doesn’t want monkey poo thrown on him.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:05am
  1947: Maybe he saw the Obama Express Bus coming over the horizon…
  
  Report this comment
ginger100
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:10am
You know that chuckle head is laughing all the way to the oval room.

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Zeke48
Posted on February 2, 2013 at 12:05am
Thanks for all your years of service. To bad this Administration has leaked so many secrets that China and Russia don’t even needs secret agents anymore. I often wonder who’s side our commander and chief is on.

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- barber2
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 10:04am
  ZEKE: Yes. All they have to do is to read the front page of the Obama Leak Sheet , The New York Times.
  
  Report this comment

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