Two House Republican committee chairs said today they expect more departures in the wake of the Secret Service prostitution scandal, but expressed confidence in Director Mark Sullivan.
"I have full confidence in him," said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, speaking on NBC's Meet The Press.
He added: "I would suspect within the very near future to have several other Secret Service agents leaving the agency."
King and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Cal., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said they were less concerned with the "salacious" details of the scandal, than with the idea of agents allowing foreign nationals into a secure area.
President Obama has also endorsed Secret Service Director Sullivan, but is angry over the incident that overshadowed last weekend's trip to the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia.
Maybe he should be a little more "angry". Sullivan's the same guy who was in charge during the Salahi party crasher incident. So far he has been at the helm of two major fuck ups. I don't know who's more inept; POTUS or the Secret Service Director.
Dumb
Dumber
Is that even possible?
"I think it's fair to say he was apoplectic," said campaign adviser David Axelrod, also on Meet The Press.
The incident involved at least 23 federal security personnel, a dozen members of the military and 11 military people.
Six Secret Service personnel have left the agency in the wake of the prostitution scandal, either through resignation, retirement, or dismissal.
Another five remain under investigation over allegations they brought prostitutes back to their hotel, two days before Obama arrived in Colombia.
One other Secret Service official has been cleared of "serious misconduct," but still faces "appropriate administrative action," said a statement from the agency.
The U.S. Southern Command says 11 military personnel remain under investigation.
King and Issa said investigators must still determine if Obama's security was ever compromised while in Colombia, something the Secret Service has so far denied. The lawmakers also said Sullivan must take steps to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., a Democratic member of the House oversight committee, said on ABC's This Week that hearings are likely on the incident. Maloney also raised cultural issues surrounding the Secret Service, noting only 11% of the agents are women.
"If there were more agents on the ground, maybe we would not have had this," Maloney said.
Also on ABC, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she doubted the Colombian prostitution incident was a one-time thing.
"To me it defies belief that this is just an aberration," Collins said. "There were too many people involved. If it had been one or two, then I would say it was an aberration. But it included two supervisors. That is particularly shocking and appalling."
Common sense coming from Susan Collins of all people.
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