‘We Think the Number Might Be Higher’: Secret Service Scandal May Involve Still More Personnel
- Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:07pm by
Erica Ritz
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(NewsCore/ The Blaze) The Republican congressman who runs the House investigative committee said Sunday that he believes the Secret Service scandal involving allegations of partying and prostitutes in Colombia may have involved more than the 11 agents and 5 U.S. service members implicated in current reports.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he will seek to determine exactly how many Secret Service agents and members of the military were involved in the incident, saying, “we think the number might be higher, and we’re asking for the exact amount of all the people who were involved.”
Issa, who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said a breakdown in discipline within the elite security detail could have resulted in blackmail or other repercussions that ultimately may have endangered Obama or other top government officials.
“It’s the reason that the investigation will not be about the 11 to 20 or more involved, it will be about how did this happen and how often has this happened before? Things like this don‘t happen once if they didn’t happen before,” Issa said.
During a Saturday press conference, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the president has full confidence in the Secret Service and its ability to protect him. The Secret Service agents involved in the incident, which occurred Wednesday night, were sent home and replaced by other personnel before Obama’s arrival on Friday.
But Issa said he does not share in Obama’s confidence after the incident.
“In this particular case, the [president] may not have been in danger, but that’s — that’s to beg the whole question of what happens if somebody six months ago, six years ago, became the victim of their own misconduct and is now being blackmailed?” he asked. “So the question is, is the whole organization in need of some soul-searching, some changes, or before — before the president, the vice president, members of the cabinet are in danger?”
The scandal will also be the subject of a probe by the House Homeland Security Committee, which oversees the Secret Service, although that panel’s chairman predicted it was an isolated incident.
Chairman Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) told FOX News that he has directed his staff to launch an “immediate investigation” and said his committee will likely hold a hearing on the scandal.
King agreed with Issa that the agents left themselves open to blackmail or threats but added that he believes the incident was an “aberration.”
Issa, meanwhile, said he has not determined if the incident will require hearings or an official investigation, but he said he wants to ensure that precautions are taken to prevent similar incidents.
“The question is how are they going to make these changes in discipline and perhaps polygraphs and other items being intensified so that this can’t happen in the future,” he remarked.
The president commented Sunday that, though he has full confidence in the Secret Service, he does expect a full investigation and will be “angry” if he finds out the allegations are true.
“I expect that investigation to be thorough, and I expect it to be rigorous,” he said. “If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, then of course I’ll be angry. … We are representing the people of the United States, and when we travel to another country, I expect us to observe the highest standards.”
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Comments (101)
spirited
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:29pm“rigorous” and “angry”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ uh hmmm.
Sounds like these words were taken out of the same book as
{]8^> Fast and Furious
Report Post »TRILO
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:16pmIssa… what a joke. I am still waiting for him to do something about the Fast and Furious scanal. I have not heard anything for months. All talk… no action. Another usless politician. If we could harness the hot air that comes from their mouths we would solve our energy problems.
As far as I am concerned, anyone working for the federal government in this day in age I do not trust. The CIA is on covert operations around the world stiring up trouble and siding with rebels that have connections to Al Qaeda or the Muslim Brotherhood. The FBI is raiding raw dairy farmers and the Amish while drug cartels are running the southern border. Look at what the GSA did in Vegas. Why would I think the Secret Service would be any different?
We have a government that is out of control and corrupt at every level. Unfortunately it has been this way for decades. It is just on hyperdrive under the TOTUS.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:34pmAt the NRA Convention Issa & Grassly spoke about Fast and Furious & Brian Terry
Grassly spoke about it at great length –and swore (well, almost) to get to the bottom of the matter.
Matter of fact –yes, punn intended–,
;^> he’s wants (at least) Holder’s bottom.
Report Post »Goldenyears22
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:25amI guess you haven’t been listening. They are trying, but the White House will not cooperate. They have to protect each other in this, stall and stall and make it hard to get at the truth.
Report Post »BrownWaterVet
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 2:36amLet’s see if I understand. Issa & King want to hold hearings on this. Maybe they should clean their own house first. The 3 branches of govt are as corrupt as anywhere around, but they want to investigate others to keep the press of of them. After all, these Secret Service guys 9if the allegations are true) were only following the lead of former President Clinton. Isn‘t that why we call them ’The leader of the free world?”
Semper Fortis
Report Post »1947
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:13pmThis is a set up…….. SS doesn’t work this way……. Beck, you need to talk to these individuals……..
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 6:16amAn old Roman said: Who will protect us from the Guards that we employ to Protect us. The Roman Emperor Caligula, needing Money… turned the Wives of the Senators into Prostitutes… which he thought was their real Profession any way (agreed) :)
Report Post »BostonHarold
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:11pmThese guys are being set up big time. I smell Chicago blackmail. Maybe from now on he‘ll travel around with New Black Panther security or Farrakhan’s Fruit of Islam. The Secret Service despised the Clintons and probably feel the same about Obama. They loved Reagan and the Bush’s. Would you take a bullet for that skinny punk?
Report Post »1947
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:33pms the KGB said If you recall Obama said he was going to have his own ARMY of Brown Shirts….One more step to kill America in the face of the other parts of the present World…….As the KGB once said we will get you from the inside out……….
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:43pmyep!
>Something most definately up.
Are King and Issa NSC members?
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:03pmWhat the hell is this? Caligula? This administration has the discipline of a 2 year old. I have 44 years under my belt, I can’t remember a more unguided ship.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:03pmThis kinda stuff doesn’t take place at the North Pole!
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:45pmThat’s cuz
he knows if you’ve been bad or good
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:56pmSurround yourself with incompetents of low moral character,Mr Obama…This seems to be the theme for your entire administration…I could care less if secret service does a good job of protecting your treasonous a$$..
Report Post »Quencher
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:01amMcDave———- Just type in Darrel Issa into google and then select Wikipedia for a bio on Issa. I think any other search engine would have the same Wikipedia that gives you the history of Issa. I used Google.
Report Post »Quencher
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:24amI did look it up and found a link that worked for me. Try typing it into Google. Read “early history etc.”
——- darrel issa – wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ——–
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 3:21am@ MCDAVE:
They’d better protect him – otherwise we get the monster Joe “Franken” Biden (Snooky‘s brain in an old white man’s body) for dictator to preside over the mess that would surely follow.
Proverbs 29:3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
Report Post »Quencher
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:53pmMight be a good Idea to Google “Darrel Issa” and see why he is so reluctant to move against Holder and Obama when he has the power and the evidence to go after them?
Report Post »Worth your time and you can draw your own conclusions about what Wikipedia has to say? I did.
Oh, If only Issa and Grassley had a pinch of the guts that Sheriff Joe Arpaio has shown!
MCDAVE
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:59pmPLEASE post a link..
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:26pmDarrel Issa Looks like a steadfast conservative…Wish he was running for president…could not find anything about evidence you spoke about..Please post a link
Report Post »Quencher
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:43pmWOW!! Here we go again–The fox is in the henhouse! Issa is using the same sorry excuse to do absolutely nothing regarding this event that he is using to do absolutely nothing in Fast & Furious! When he uses the expression “We have to see what we can do to see that this never happens again” means ” we will do exactly nothing to hold anyone accountable!” Both Issa and Grassley have used this same expression and we can be sure that all of both cases will be delayed until forgotten. They both are making a big mistake. I will not forget and millions of other voters will not forget! It is downright sickening that these politicians are so inept and cowardly that they only care about their jobs and their power! Makes me wonder if they are both rooting for Obama and his gang of Communists to take over our country!
Report Post »Dave.the.Blaze
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:52pmI do believe you have absolutely no idea what communism is, do you?
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:37pmDon’t worry everybody. John ‘girl I’m just a WEEPSTER for your love’ Boehner is gonna kick ass and take names. He should have been a silent film star.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:31pmObama will, of course, be angry.
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:39pmBut of course if 11 secret service agents and 5 U.S. military personnel wined and dined Colombian women and then had one night stands with them, there would be no problem. None what so ever. Because it’s impossible to honey trap when a date is involved.
Give me a break.
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:25pmIssa will surely look good going with this and get all the help he needs from the DOJ. I hope he still has time to work on Fast and Furious with all these “pressing” and oh so sudden issues… and he was so close too on the gun running case….
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:23pmI predict the Supreme Court Jesters, will uphold Obamacare, much like they upheld the totally unconstitutional , McCain Fiengold….. They have been bought and paid for………
Report Post »Dave.the.Blaze
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:23pmWhat a let-down. These guys were supposed to be the best of the best of our military.
Report Post »Quencher
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:10pmOh yes I do have an idea what communism is. I would be happy to challenge the average. If you are a specialist in the field I would yield to you expertise, of course.
As to the comment regarding “best of our military”, I think the Secret Service might be a part of the case?
Report Post »Sharon Rose
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:20pmAre these secret service personnel picked by BHO or are they life time employees??
Report Post »bigbear_awake
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:20pmDarrell Issa can’t get bho or holder on anything maybe he can get this under his belt what a joke the whole wh is.. oh LET ME BE CLEAR Good place for bho to take mo maybe she can finally work a day in her life being so proud for the 1st time in her life
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:05pm.
Report Post »Best Secret Service excuse?
“Well, we were told to travel a broad.”
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:32pmMoohaha.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:01amClever !
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:43pmWrong place, wrong time.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:43pmNew York Times. Front page. Middle column: President Obama will be “ angry ” about this. Sound familiar ? Mr. Occupy tacks to the right/ conservative in language to basically trash the Secret Service / military. Let’s see: ” do nothing congress. Then bad ObamaCare Supreme Court . Now the bad Secret Service/ Military. Believe this ? This administration gets craftier by the day….. And we are supposed to believe all of this ??
Report Post »Paul
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:55pmI don’t buy it, PERIOD.
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:33pmThe government would never set anyone up, just ask Col Oliver North.
Report Post »raspberrytea
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:33pmWonder what the next scandal will be? There will be one
Report Post »a week until election day. Watch the other hand.
Cosmos102
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 10:18pmThere have been so many lapses in security under his administration. There’s obviously no authority in the WH. The couple occupying the West Wing are nothing but slackers.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:33pmThis entire incident does not pass the “ smell ” test. What is in this for the Obama Administration? The only reason this would have been ” leaked. ” Advantage: Obama. That is ALL that the Democrat Occupiers of the White House care about …
Report Post »BumperMorgan
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 10:54amHe will eventually not use the Secret Service and form his own Security detail. It will be better trained and equipped than the military.
Report Post »blue_collar_man
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:30pmWell, I guess that is it then. The CIA, the FBI, and now the Secret Service. I would call that a hat-trick. Absolutely no credibility left. No law enforcement agency in the US is not corrupt to the core. Thanks Mr. President, whoever you are, for exposing them as the corrupt agencies they are. We have been sold out. Pity.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:26pmThink America was a better nation back when we weren’t quibbling with one another about the “ In God We Trust ” motto. With our new atheist / secular standard we have “devolved ” into an ” In God We Need Hope For Protection.” And that is from the moderate wing of the religious conservatives . This Marxist administration will drive people BACK to their churches who haven’t been there in years ! What a mess. And , maybe, what a blessing. God works in strange and mysterious ways…
Report Post »possom
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:19pmThey‘ll probable say their all republican’s!
Report Post »Goldenyears22
Posted on April 16, 2012 at 12:22amWould they have a Republican in their midst. I don’t think so.
Report Post »FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:14pmThat’s all we need. Now Obama and his talking heads will go and blame Bush. ” Uh uh uh the notion that this ah ah ah started in my ah ah administration ah ah is not correct uh uh it started with Bush.” I can hear it now.
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:21pmYou forgot his lead-off statement when he’s preparing to lie. “Let me be clear”
Report Post »noland
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:47pmTheir probably hand-picked by this Despot in. Some of Van Jones personal friends. But what do except with some of the trash they let into the White House to come in and whip their feet. And hard telling how much …… never mind.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 11:02pmit had to start some time,
Report Post »way cann’t it started under B.O.