Secret Service chief denies 'culture' of impropriety

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan said the scandal involving agents and prostitutes in Colombia was not part of a 'systemic issue.' But Sen. Susan Collins said it 'was almost certainly not an isolated incident.'

By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / May 23, 2012

U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan answers questions from the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in Washington Wednesday May 23, 2012. The head of the U.S. Secret Service, in his first public appearance since a scandal involving Colombian prostitutes and his employees, apologized for the misconduct on Wednesday but lawmakers expressed doubt that this was an isolated incident.

Gary Cameron/Reuters

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US Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, in his first congressional appearance since the prostitution scandal erupted in April, on Wednesday rejected allegations that a culture of improper behavior exists in his agency.

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"This is not a cultural issue, this is not a systemic issue," Mr. Sullivan?told the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

But lawmakers? questions at the hearing showed the Service is struggling to shake off the scandal involving prostitutes in Cartagena, Colombia.

The committee chairman, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) of Connecticut, reported that there have been 64 allegations of misconduct by agents over the past five years, including improper relationships with foreign nationals.

Some former employees of the agency say that it is especially on assignments abroad that the culture of improper behavior exists.

Although Sullivan enjoys a good reputation with Congress, some lawmakers remain skeptical of his defense of his agency.

"The facts so far lead me to conclude that, while not at all representative of the majority of Secret Service personnel, this misconduct was almost certainly not an isolated incident," Sen. Susan Collins, (R) of Maine, said. "The numbers [of agents] involved, as well as the participation of two senior supervisors, lead me to believe that this was not a one-time event. Rather, it suggests an issue of culture."

"Two of the participants were supervisors ? one with 22 years of service and the other with 21 ? and both were married,? Senator Collins pointed out. ?That surely sends a message to the rank and file that this kind of activity is tolerated on the road.?

In any case, and under pressure not to have the Secret Service simply investigate itself, the Department of Homeland Security?s inspector general said Wednesday that an independent probe of the Cartagena incident will be conducted.

The agents alleged to have been involved in Cartagena were part of an advance team sent to prepare for President Obama?s participation in the Summit of the Americas. Following exposure of the incident, which included some 20 paid female ?escorts,? the number of agents alleged to be involved grew to 13, eight of whom were either fired, forced to retire, or had their security clearances pulled (which would force them to resign).

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