A prostitution scandal involving U.S. Secret Service employees and military personnel in Cartagena, Colombia, led to three agency departures and investigations ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to the Summit of the Americas. The incident became public after a dispute over payment between a Secret Service employee and a woman at the Hotel Caribe on April 12 drew the attention of hotel staff and Colombian authorities.

Investigators were examining the conduct of 11 Secret Service employees and about 10 military personnel. Some members of the advance security team allegedly engaged in heavy drinking, visited a strip club and brought prostitutes to their hotel rooms. The Secret Service recalled and replaced the 11 employees before Obama arrived, placed them on administrative leave and revoked their security clearances. Three employees were leaving the agency, including two supervisors, while eight remained suspended. Lawmakers overseeing the agency said they expected further dismissals.

The supervisors were identified as David Chaney and Greg Stokes, both longtime Secret Service employees who had served on presidential protection details. Chaney retired under pressure, while Stokes was notified that he would be fired and given an opportunity to contest the charges. Their attorney, Lawrence Berger, said judgment about their roles was premature and maintained that nothing reported had harmed their mission or the president’s visit. Their involvement raised questions about leadership and whether the episode reflected a broader problem within the agency.

Chaney also drew attention for Facebook comments about a photograph of himself guarding Sarah Palin during her 2008 vice presidential campaign. He wrote that he was “really checking her out.” Palin called the comment embarrassing and responded on Fox News, “You’re fired!” She also criticized the scandal as a sign of poor government management.

The White House expressed confidence in Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan and said Obama’s security in Cartagena was never compromised. Presidential spokesman Jay Carney urged patience while the investigations continued and accused a Republican senator of politicizing the incident. Lawmakers from both parties condemned the alleged misconduct, though they differed on whether it called for changes in agency leadership or reflected the poor judgment of the individuals involved.

Investigators interviewed employees and hotel staff, and military officials traveled to Colombia as part of a separate inquiry. Authorities had not yet interviewed the women involved, according to House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King.