Secret Service pulls 3 agents from Obama trip

A Secret Service agent found drunk by staff at a Dutch hotel was recalled to the U.S. along with two of his colleagues, the day before President Barack Obama was set to arrive in the Netherlands.

Word of another scandal to hit the elite agency came as the president was midway through a weeklong, four-country trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia. The Secret Service said the three agents were benched on Sunday for "disciplinary reasons" but declined to elaborate.

The Secret Service was alerted to the situation by U.S. Embassy officials in the Netherlands after hotel staff reported finding the highly intoxicated agent in the hotel, said a person familiar with the situation, who wasn't authorized to discuss the alleged behavior on the record and demanded anonymity. The other two agents were deemed complicit because they didn't intervene despite being in a position to assist the drunken agent or tamp down his behavior, the person said.

"It wasn't like a big, crazy party," the person said.

The three agents were part of the president's Counter Assault Team, but have been placed on administrative leave, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disciplinary action. The newspaper said one of the agents was a "team leader.".....snip~

http://news.yahoo.com/secret-pulls-...;_ylg=X3oDMTBhYWM1a2sxBGxhbmcDZW4tVVM-;_ylv=3


Some more trouble for the Secret Service. Why is it wherever Obama goes.....people are being fired or let go. All of a Sudden Obama shows and everybody is a stickler for the Rules. Yet Obama doesn't stick to the rules himself.

Anyway.....the Associated press says its another Scandal. What say ye?

MMC said:

A Secret Service agent found drunk by staff at a Dutch hotel was recalled to the U.S. along with two of his colleagues, the day before President Barack Obama was set to arrive in the Netherlands.

Word of another scandal to hit the elite agency came as the president was midway through a weeklong, four-country trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia. The Secret Service said the three agents were benched on Sunday for "disciplinary reasons" but declined to elaborate.

The Secret Service was alerted to the situation by U.S. Embassy officials in the Netherlands after hotel staff reported finding the highly intoxicated agent in the hotel, said a person familiar with the situation, who wasn't authorized to discuss the alleged behavior on the record and demanded anonymity. The other two agents were deemed complicit because they didn't intervene despite being in a position to assist the drunken agent or tamp down his behavior, the person said.

"It wasn't like a big, crazy party," the person said.

The three agents were part of the president's Counter Assault Team, but have been placed on administrative leave, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disciplinary action. The newspaper said one of the agents was a "team leader.".....snip~

http://news.yahoo.com/secret-pulls-...;_ylg=X3oDMTBhYWM1a2sxBGxhbmcDZW4tVVM-;_ylv=3


Some more trouble for the Secret Service. Why is it wherever Obama goes.....people are being fired or let go. All of a Sudden Obama shows and everybody is a stickler for the Rules. Yet Obama doesn't stick to the rules himself.

Anyway.....the Associated press says its another Scandal. What say ye?

Click to expand...

I think we have a right to expect that the people who protect the President of the United States (and all the others they are charged with protecting) are above reproach and professional in every aspect of their lives.

I hope at least the DRUNK is fired.

MMC said:

A Secret Service agent found drunk by staff at a Dutch hotel was recalled to the U.S. along with two of his colleagues, the day before President Barack Obama was set to arrive in the Netherlands.

Word of another scandal to hit the elite agency came as the president was midway through a weeklong, four-country trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia. The Secret Service said the three agents were benched on Sunday for "disciplinary reasons" but declined to elaborate.

The Secret Service was alerted to the situation by U.S. Embassy officials in the Netherlands after hotel staff reported finding the highly intoxicated agent in the hotel, said a person familiar with the situation, who wasn't authorized to discuss the alleged behavior on the record and demanded anonymity. The other two agents were deemed complicit because they didn't intervene despite being in a position to assist the drunken agent or tamp down his behavior, the person said.

"It wasn't like a big, crazy party," the person said.

The three agents were part of the president's Counter Assault Team, but have been placed on administrative leave, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disciplinary action. The newspaper said one of the agents was a "team leader.".....snip~

http://news.yahoo.com/secret-pulls-...;_ylg=X3oDMTBhYWM1a2sxBGxhbmcDZW4tVVM-;_ylv=3


Some more trouble for the Secret Service. Why is it wherever Obama goes.....people are being fired or let go. All of a Sudden Obama shows and everybody is a stickler for the Rules. Yet Obama doesn't stick to the rules himself.

Anyway.....the Associated press says its another Scandal. What say ye?

Click to expand...

Err what does this have to do with Obama? There were also quite a number of scandals under Bush when it came to the SS..

There aren't too many jobs where it's ok to be drunk and act like a fool in public when representing your employer especially in another country. Hell, my job isn't quite as important as a SS agent but I am willing to assume I'd be fired too.

MaggieD said:

I think we have a right to expect that the people who protect the President of the United States (and all the others they are charged with protecting) are above reproach and professional in every aspect of their lives.

I hope at least the DRUNK is fired.

Click to expand...

Takes a lot to be a SS agent. Don't be too judgemental. Stress is the biggest factor in alcoholism in those professions.

MaggieD said:

I think we have a right to expect that the people who protect the President of the United States (and all the others they are charged with protecting) are above reproach and professional in every aspect of their lives.

I hope at least the DRUNK is fired.

Click to expand...

If he's off duty, he should be able to do what he wants, within reason. Getting drunk, even real drunk isn't that big of a deal.

PeteEU said:

Err what does this have to do with Obama? There were also quite a number of scandals under Bush when it came to the SS..

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No one is saying it's about Obama. You jumped the gun, bro...lol!

apdst said:

If he's off duty, he should be able to do what he wants, within reason. Getting drunk, even real drunk isn't that big of a deal.

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Yeah I am wondering if we would have heard if this guy got drunk.....if Obama wasn't even going over there. Would they even have reported then? Especially if he was off duty. What could the others have done if he wasn't on duty?

Why would the Associated press call it a Scandal?

CRUE CAB said:

Takes a lot to be a SS agent. Don't be too judgemental. Stress is the biggest factor in alcoholism in those professions.

Click to expand...

Takes a lot to be a SS agent . . . and that's why they have a lot to lose. I'll have sympathy for him if he's an alcoholic. If he's just a big ole' man-child who binge drinks? Notsomuch. And neither of us know which one he is. But even if he's an alcoholic? That doesn't mean he gets a pass. A SS agent who gets drunk on detail is worse than useless. He's a liability. A danger to his partners and to the people he protects.

apdst said:

If he's off duty, he should be able to do what he wants, within reason. Getting drunk, even real drunk isn't that big of a deal.

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I think you will find that when an agent is protecting the president, he's never off-duty. It's a huge deal. Huge. A SS agent is privy to the President's movements, security precautions being taken, schedules, etc., etc. I have no idea how you can say that. Lordy.

MaggieD said:

Takes a lot to be a SS agent . . . and that's why they have a lot to lose. I'll have sympathy for him if he's an alcoholic. If he's just a big ole' man-child who binge drinks? Notsomuch. And neither of us know which one he is. But even if he's an alcoholic? That doesn't mean he gets a pass. A SS agent who gets drunk on detail is worse than useless. He's a liability. A danger to his partners and to the people he protects.

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SS don't hire "big ole man childs". My bet is he is a college educated ex military officer or at the very least a NCO with a high degree of training. And, clearly a problem.

PeteEU said:

Err what does this have to do with Obama? There were also quite a number of scandals under Bush when it came to the SS..

Click to expand...

Because Obama is POTUS presently. And he's supposed to be responsible for everything that happens while he is POTUS. Even hurricanes and national disasters. eace

MMC said:

A Secret Service agent found drunk by staff at a Dutch hotel was recalled to the U.S. along with two of his colleagues, the day before President Barack Obama was set to arrive in the Netherlands.

Word of another scandal to hit the elite agency came as the president was midway through a weeklong, four-country trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia. The Secret Service said the three agents were benched on Sunday for "disciplinary reasons" but declined to elaborate.

The Secret Service was alerted to the situation by U.S. Embassy officials in the Netherlands after hotel staff reported finding the highly intoxicated agent in the hotel, said a person familiar with the situation, who wasn't authorized to discuss the alleged behavior on the record and demanded anonymity. The other two agents were deemed complicit because they didn't intervene despite being in a position to assist the drunken agent or tamp down his behavior, the person said.

"It wasn't like a big, crazy party," the person said.

The three agents were part of the president's Counter Assault Team, but have been placed on administrative leave, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disciplinary action. The newspaper said one of the agents was a "team leader.".....snip~

http://news.yahoo.com/secret-pulls-...;_ylg=X3oDMTBhYWM1a2sxBGxhbmcDZW4tVVM-;_ylv=3

Click to expand...

Well at least he's holding the people directly responsible for HIS safety accountable.


Tim-

CRUE CAB said:

SS don't hire "big ole man childs". My bet is he is a college educated ex military officer or at the very least a NCO with a high degree of training. And, clearly a problem.

Click to expand...

If he was the Team Leader.....might explain why the others didn't say anything.

MaggieD said:

I think we have a right to expect that the people who protect the President of the United States (and all the others they are charged with protecting) are above reproach and professional in every aspect of their lives.

Click to expand...

I hope at least the DRUNK is fired.

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We certainly have a right to expect better behavior, but it looks like what we're getting is more bad behavior.

Maybe the Secret Service needs to be a little more selective about who it hires?

MaggieD said:

I think you will find that when an agent is protecting the president, he's never off-duty. It's a huge deal. Huge. A SS agent is privy to the President's movements, security precautions being taken, schedules, etc., etc. I have no idea how you can say that. Lordy.

Click to expand...

For starters, the president wasn't even in country at the time. Second, he was oitside his area of operations, so he was obviously off duty.

It appears to me that they've been looking for a reason to **** can this guy and they finally found one.

apdst said:

If he's off duty, he should be able to do what he wants, within reason.

Getting drunk, even real drunk isn't that big of a deal.

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It is if it causes you to lose your job.

MMC said:

If he was the Team Leader.....might explain why the others didn't say anything.

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Thin blue line.

shrubnose said:

It is if it causes you to lose your job.

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Your employer can't make up the rules as they go. Obviously, these agents were aware that they were doing anything wrong. Looks like they were just doing what agents have done before, but for some reason they got gigged for it.

MaggieD said:

I think we have a right to expect that the people who protect the President of the United States (and all the others they are charged with protecting) are above reproach and professional in every aspect of their lives.

I hope at least the DRUNK is fired.

Click to expand...

Generally, I believe that people should have private lives that allow them to do whatever they choose on their own time as long as it doesn't adversely affect their job performance. The Secret Service, however, is unique in many ways and clearly when you're outside the country preparing for a state visit you're really on the clock 24/7 - I wouldn't be surprised if they're paid as if they were on active duty 24/7. In addition, such behaviour sets a person up for being blackmailed or compromised if the information gets into the wrong hands.

The other two agents who are being disciplined for not controlling the other agent, that's a little more sketchy for me. Even if they were in positions of authority over the other agent, it's hard to see how short of physical action you can stop or control a guy who is or wants to get drunk. If they didn't report it and should have - okay - but stopping the other guy, I'm not so good with that level of responsibility.

apdst said:

Your employer can't make up the rules as they go

Click to expand...

. Obviously, these agents were aware that they were doing anything wrong. Looks like they were just doing what agents have done before, but for some reason they got gigged for it.

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Wrong.

Employers can put any rule in place, at any time, if nothing stops them from doing that.

And that's exactly what some employers do.

apdst said:

If he's off duty, he should be able to do what he wants, within reason. Getting drunk, even real drunk isn't that big of a deal.

Obviously, these agents were aware that they were doing anything wrong. Looks like they were just doing what agents have done before, but for some reason they got gigged for it.

Click to expand...

Here's a much better article describing this incident:

Secret Service agents on Obama detail sent home from Netherlands after night of drinking - The Washington Post

In the wake of the Cartagena incident the SS formally adopted a set of rules that govern the behavior of agents while TDY.

Of note are the following:

5. Alcohol may only be consumed in moderate amounts while off-duty on a TDY assignment and alcohol use is prohibited within 10 hours of reporting for duty.

6. Alcohol may not be consumed at the protectee hotel once the protective visit has begun.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/...-colombia-prostitution-scandal-221648691.html

In this recent Netherlands incident one of the agents, the one in the worst shape, was found passed out drunk in the hallway of the protectee hotel late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. With the President due to arrive on Monday morning (Air Force One touched down 0757 GMT Monday) his protective detail would have been required to be on duty Sunday for briefings, rehearsals, and the like. You can't very well be passed out dead drunk on the floor at zero dark thirty Sunday morning and then be fully functional at work at 0900 that same day (I've tried, numerous times, it's impossible).

By being drunk in the hotel Saturday night/Sunday morning, and drunk to the degree that he was passed out on the floor in a hallway, this guy violated numerous policies.

Add to that the fact that he was found by hotel staff, who alerted the U.S. Embassy staff, who in turn alerted his detail supervisors back at the hotel, and you've got a major employment incident that also takes on a bit of the color of an international incident.

All that is beside the point that it doesn't much matter whether you're working for Uncle Sam or Walmart - if you're sent on a business trip and your boss has to come police your drunk ass up off the hallway floor a three in the morning (an assumption on my part) you're gonna be in some hot water.

I'm guessing that the other two agents had their chains pulled because they too were drinking less than 10 hours prior to going on duty in the protectee hotel. They may not have been as drunk as Thing 1, but they were almost certainly in violation of policies thhat were designed to prevent EXACTLY this sort of thing.

apdst said:

No one is saying it's about Obama. You jumped the gun, bro...lol!

Click to expand...

Oh did I? A quote from the OP...

Some more trouble for the Secret Service. Why is it wherever Obama goes.....people are being fired or let go. All of a Sudden Obama shows and everybody is a stickler for the Rules. Yet Obama doesn't stick to the rules himself.

Click to expand...

Why bring Obama into this?

AJiveMan said:

Because Obama is POTUS presently. And he's supposed to be responsible for everything that happens while he is POTUS. Even hurricanes and national disasters. eace

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So I can blame him for the meal I prepared tonight that did not come out as I had hoped? COOL!

MMC said:

A Secret Service agent found drunk by staff at a Dutch hotel was recalled to the U.S. along with two of his colleagues, the day before President Barack Obama was set to arrive in the Netherlands.

Word of another scandal to hit the elite agency came as the president was midway through a weeklong, four-country trip to Europe and Saudi Arabia. The Secret Service said the three agents were benched on Sunday for "disciplinary reasons" but declined to elaborate.

The Secret Service was alerted to the situation by U.S. Embassy officials in the Netherlands after hotel staff reported finding the highly intoxicated agent in the hotel, said a person familiar with the situation, who wasn't authorized to discuss the alleged behavior on the record and demanded anonymity. The other two agents were deemed complicit because they didn't intervene despite being in a position to assist the drunken agent or tamp down his behavior, the person said.

"It wasn't like a big, crazy party," the person said.

The three agents were part of the president's Counter Assault Team, but have been placed on administrative leave, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disciplinary action. The newspaper said one of the agents was a "team leader.".....snip~

http://news.yahoo.com/secret-pulls-...;_ylg=X3oDMTBhYWM1a2sxBGxhbmcDZW4tVVM-;_ylv=3


Some more trouble for the Secret Service. Why is it wherever Obama goes.....people are being fired or let go. All of a Sudden Obama shows and everybody is a stickler for the Rules. Yet Obama doesn't stick to the rules himself.

Anyway.....the Associated press says its another Scandal. What say ye?

Click to expand...

Shouldn't they be concerned more with counterfeiting anyway?