Prostitution inquiry leads to secret service dismissal

This transcript is automatically generated

-- developments this hour what is certainly an embarrassing distraction for the White House.

A prostitution.

In -- involving an entire unit of president Obama's secret its Secret Service team.

-- -- all going down during an international summit in Colombia here now the man who broke the story Ron Kessler he's the author of in the president's Secret Service -- the chief Washington correspondent for news Max.

Ron good to have you with this this afternoon in the stories moving very quickly we're learning a lot more minute by minute what do we know that this.

Well this was twelve agents who became involved with prostitutes and Columbia and have an earlier this week.

One of the trust his complaints -- -- because.

When the agents refused to pay her and in Columbia.

Prostitution is not illegal so there's no problem reported -- The police told the State Department stated -- until the Secret Service.

Which informed the White House.

Many of these engines where Marion.

Could have.

Create a blackmail situation which could jeopardize the security the president could -- even resulted.

In an assassination.

On top of that to -- embarrassment.

Of having this happen when the president is visiting a foreign country.

Is incredible and and this is -- -- the largest scandal in the history of the Secret Service.

I'm gonna hand the largest breach occurred under the same Secret Service director Mark Sullivan win.

We saw the sly he's -- the state dinner and then a third -- Carlos Allen.

I broke out story.

It's part of a pattern within the Secret Service have accord accounting Waxman's cover up.

Which I write about in my book in the president's Secret Service.

And if it -- -- it was to run type -- question you can imagine just a little bit of the potential.

Security implications here what we're we're these members of the president's protective detail the ones that will jump in front of a -- for the president.

Where -- members of the advance team and -- were all twelve of them involved or was the number smaller.

All twelve were involved.

Most of them with a prostitution few with the cover up.

And they were not the -- agents who.

Who actually are with the president at all times but they are part of the protection.

So there's this is important you know any any breach.

Involving -- any single agent is enough.

To create the situation -- -- assassination could -- and gazans I talked to say that it's -- it's a miracle.

As it is given the corner cutting that there hasn't been assassination because.

It ranges from letting.

It people into events without metal detection to.

Waving.

Physical fitness and and firearms.

Requirements.

Just as one example.

Recently an agent.

Was so we're way and how to shape that she couldn't open the press the the door of the president's -- so what was a solution.

Incentive you're removing her requiring heard it.

To undergo a physical fitness.

The -- service that was just part limousine in a way that she would make it easier for her to open the door.

Well -- we've we've we've always known that Ron that the secret services is tasked with -- it enormous burden.

And that all of those agents certainly have to work long long hours doing.

Not just protecting work protecting the president but so many other things -- well.

In addition to this being I would assume maybe they didn't even break the law here but it -- -- to being a real transgression of the code.

Of the Secret Service.

This is a real distraction for the White House through their at this summit of the Americas in Columbia they want that to be the message and instead.

The press isn't talking about that at all word we're just talking about the Secret Service.

Can imagine what Obama feels like but at the same time.

He keeps expressing confidence in Mark Sullivan the director even after the intrusion by the -- is that the state -- Sort of interesting to see if if he gets -- this time because.

You know -- -- have been on line though they should bring in new director from the outside such as Bob Mueller was when he took over the FBI.

Who is not beholden to interest within the agency.

Who will who will stop this corner cutting.

This culture of -- us.

Another example when Mary Cheney Dick Cheney's daughter was under protection.

She insisted that Asians take her friends to restaurants and -- not.

Taxi drivers are not the law enforcement there refused and bad bad the -- -- service management removed.

-- detail leader because she complain about -- so.

The the message is you know if if we follow the rules we could be in trouble that's.

What -- -- -- with a sly is and it creates is this low morale which which can contribute to the situation.

-- certainly this just is an incredible shock that something like this would happen being domestically it would be shocking.

Overseas it's just incredible almost see exactly how -- the whole thing goes.

Broadcast -- good to talk to this afternoon thanks for stopping by.

Thank you John.

Watch Live

Prostitution inquiry leads to secret service dismissal

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

'Worst case scenario' for Moore, Oklahoma

First responders raise flag after devastating tornado

Tornado survivor: 'Loudest noise I've ever heard'

Trace Adkins knows what it's like to lose everything

DOJ targets Fox News reporters for doing their jobs?

Photographer captures images of heroic efforts in Oklahoma

What is it like to live through a tornado?

Student rescued from rubble of school: 'It was scary'

Devastated community holds out hope in search for survivors

Obama to Oklahoma: We will be there as long as it takes

Elevated risk of severe weather from Texas to Great Lakes

'Mindboggling' scene at Oklahoma University Medical Center

Transcript

Recommended