Man Who Revealed Secret Service Prostitution Scandal Says Agency Is Lax

DETROIT (Talk Radio 1270) As President Barack Obama landed in Detroit Wednesday for two lucrative fundraisers, the man who tipped off the media about Obama's Secret Service agents allegedly hiring Columbian prostitutes said there's more to come.

"Do you think there's other stuff we don't know about?" 1270 Talk Radio host Doc Thompson asked former Washington Post reporter and author Ronald Kessler.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure there are many other examples," Kessler responded. "But these are the basic patterns that I've found."

Kessler, author of "In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes With Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect" called Thompson's show Wednesday and said the alleged drug-fueled prostitution binge is part of a systemic problem.

It all stems from lazy leaders, he said.

"But, of course the larger picture is the Secret Service has been cutting corners, getting lax," Kessler said, "This culture ...is filtering down."

Eleven Secret Service agents were relieved of duties after a trip to Columbia with the president that ended with a prostitute complaining to police that she'd been hired by agents -- but not paid. An investigation began, which Kessler called "the biggest scandal in Secret Service history."

"Most of the time they're so exhausted they don't even have a home life," Kessler told Thompson.

More evidence that the Secret Service is getting lax comes from stories about visitors getting into the White House with an invitation, Kessler added.

"They're cutting corners, letting people into events without proper screening," he said. "You saw the Salahis go prancing into the White House uninvited. This basic management problem has to be fixed."

There is one bright spot in the prostitution investigation -- Kessler refuted early reports the hookers could have been underage.

"I found out that they've determined the age was not a problem," Kessler said.

Responding to the controversy, Edwin Donovan, Secret Service spokesman, released a statement that said, "There have been allegations of misconduct made against Secret Service personnel in Cartagena, Colombia prior to the President's trip. Because of this, those personnel are being relieved of their assignments, returned to their place of duty, and are being replaced by other Secret Service personnel."

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. These personnel changes will not affect the comprehensive security plan that has been prepared in advance of the President's trip."