Secret Service Officers Sent Home Were Not Tasked With Guarding President Obama
ABC News' Reena Ninan reports:
The Secret Service has removed several officers amid allegations of misconduct involving prostitution. An American official who is not authorized to speak about the incident tells ABC News the officers were not agents tasked with guarding President Obama.
The incident may have only involved one or two individuals, the American official said. It's likely an entire unit was pulled while an investigation is underway. The officers were sent home and a new unit was brought in to replace them.
In a statement released by the Secret Service Friday night Spokesman Ed Donovan, a Special Agent said, "The Secret Service takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. This entire matter has been turned over to our Office of Professional Responsibility, which serves as the agency's internal affairs component."
The alleged incident was first reported by the Associated Press who received an anonymous tip. They initially reported that as many as 12 members of the service may have been involved.
While prostitution is legal in certain parts of Colombia the Secret Service said it takes allegations of any soliciting seriously.
The alleged misconduct happened before President Obama arrived in Colombia on Friday afternoon for the Summit of the Americas. Secret Service said that the security surrounding the president was never compromised.