The U.S. Secret Service faced a widening scandal after members of an advance security team allegedly hired prostitutes in Cartagena, Colombia, ahead of President Barack Obama’s arrival for the Summit of the Americas. The incident became public after a dispute over payment at the Hotel Caribe on April 12 drew the attention of hotel staff and Colombian authorities.

Eleven Secret Service employees and about 10 military personnel were implicated. Investigators believe the episode involved heavy drinking, a visit to a strip club and payments to women. The Secret Service recalled and replaced its employees before Obama arrived, placed them on administrative leave and revoked their security clearances. Three employees were leaving the agency, including two supervisors, while lawmakers predicted more departures.

The supervisors were identified as David Chaney and Greg Stokes, both longtime employees who had served on presidential protection details. Chaney retired under pressure, while Stokes was notified that he would be fired, subject to an opportunity to contest the charges. Their attorney, Lawrence Berger, said the investigation was incomplete and that judgments about their roles were premature. He maintained that their conduct had not affected their mission or the president’s visit.

The case drew further attention after *The Washington Post* reported that Chaney had joked on Facebook about “checking out” Sarah Palin while protecting her during the 2008 presidential campaign. Palin called the comments embarrassing and said the scandal reflected poor government management. She also questioned whether agents could be distracted while protecting the president’s family.

The White House expressed continued confidence in Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan and said Obama’s security had never been compromised in Cartagena. Spokesman Jay Carney urged patience while investigations continued and rejected attempts to make the episode a political issue. Congressional leaders condemned the conduct, with some Republicans calling for leadership changes or questioning Obama’s management. Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for accountability while cautioning against judging the entire agency by the actions of those involved.