Posted on 04/27/2012 4:36:33 AM PDT by YourAdHere
A Black Secret Service agent is being hailed as the heroine in what is reportedly the worst scandal in the agency’s history.
Paula Reid is the 46-year-old special agent responsible for blowing the whistle on the sex scandal that turned the esteemed agency into so much fodder for the 24-hour news cycle and cable talk shows. Reid, the head of the service detail down in Latin America, discovered that at least 11 agents, including two supervisors, had brought prostitutes back to their hotel rooms in Cartanega, Colombia, just days before the president arrived for an international summit. Such action posed a significant security risk for the commander-in-chief. Officials are praising Reid for her swift action.
“She acted decisively, appropriately,” said Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, and one of Congress’ lead investigators into this incident, on ABC’s “This Week” on April 22.
The other, New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from the House Oversight Committee, added, “I talked to [Secret Service Director Mark] Sullivan last night, and he was commending her leadership, too. She really went in there and cleaned up the mess.”
In the wake of Reid’s probe, six agents have been fired, six others are being investigated and 11 military personnel are also under scrutiny. Officials are also examining whether this incident was part of a pattern.
“I recognize that the vast majority of Secret Service personnel are professional, disciplined, dedicated, courageous. But 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.”
Reid’s leadership in this case is also shining a light on the paucity of women and minorities within the Secret Service.
“I can't help but wonder if there'd been more women as part of that detail if this ever would have happened,” Collins said Sunday on the weekly news talk show.
According to Maloney, the agency comprises only 11 percent women. “I can't help but keep asking this question, where are the women? We probably need to diversify the Secret Service and have more minorities and more women.”
If she had killed somebody, the color of her skin would never have been mentioned.
hmmmm...that’s a tough one.
If you mean that by keeping it “in-house” means he still gets fired, I may be with you.
Right now we are learning Colombia wasn’t the only place they felt free to do this.
And so, it appears, that when a group of guys feel protected from traditional fallout of bad behavior - then they feel free to engage in risky behavior.
It feeds off itself. Why should they be careful when they know it will be kept “in-house” right?
And so...if there is an internal culture of cover-up and protection, then that actually places their high-profile clients in more danger.
Does anyone ever wonder how “lonely” the wives are?
When their husbands travel around the world with the president?
I’m sure they console themselves with the idea that their husbands are serving their country and working very hard.
If I were one of these wives? And I found out that my husband was one of the 11 - I would want to know exactly how many years he had been engaging in this high-risk behavior with prostitutes.
How many years did he expose his wife to disease?
Agreed!
Good way to open up some slots for promotion.
Exactly.
The lady is to be commended for taking action. Black or white or anything in-between, makes no difference to me. That took guts.
“OK, I’ll let you all in on a secret. Guys in the military (and most secret service are former military) have been known to bang hookers on occasion while overseas. I know it’s hard to believe, but...”
Bullsh—. Most men, military or otherwise, do not patronize prostitutes. Ever.
Where’s the evidence that they do?
It’s just a narrative the media and the left run with to justify and minimize reprehensible behavior — “everybody does it.” And to bolster the arguments of the pimps/politicians/assorted losers who beat the drum every other election or so for legalizing prostitution.
And yeah, it is the worst scandal in the agency’s history. Can you name a worst one?
Typo: “can you name a worse one,” not “worst.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.