A Secret Service prostitution scandal in Cartagena, Colombia, led to the departure of three agency employees and investigations involving 11 Secret Service personnel and about 10 military members. The incident occurred as an advance team prepared for President Barack Obama’s arrival at the Summit of the Americas.

Investigators believe the episode involved heavy drinking, a strip club visit and payments to women for sex. It became public after a dispute over payment at the Hotel Caribe on April 12 drew the attention of hotel staff and Colombian authorities. The Secret Service recalled and replaced the 11 employees before Obama arrived; eight remained suspended with their top-secret security clearances lifted. Lawmakers said they expected further departures.

Two senior supervisors, David Chaney and Greg Stokes, were among those facing dismissal. Chaney retired under pressure, while Stokes was notified that he would be fired and would have an opportunity to contest the charges. A third, junior employee resigned. Their lawyer, Lawrence Berger, said judgment about the supervisors’ roles was premature and maintained that nothing reported had harmed their mission or the president’s visit. The involvement of experienced supervisors raised questions about accountability and whether the episode reflected a wider problem in the agency.

Attention also turned to Chaney’s Facebook posts about his protective work during the 2008 campaign. In a comment beside a photograph of himself standing behind Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, he joked that he had been “checking her out.” Palin called the remark embarrassing and responded, “You’re fired.” She also criticized the Obama administration’s management, although the Facebook comment concerned an assignment during the Bush administration.

The White House expressed confidence in Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, said the president’s security had not been compromised and urged patience while investigations continued. Members of Congress condemned the conduct, with some Republicans calling for leadership changes or questioning Obama’s management. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for accountability while cautioning against judging all Secret Service employees by the actions of those involved.