Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has admitted, "We let the boss down" over allegations of misconduct involving prostitutes against at least 10 U.S. military members at a Colombia hotel on the eve of President Barack Obama's visit over the weekend.
Dempsey, the top U.S. military officer, told a Pentagon news conference Monday that the leadership of the armed forces were embarrassed by the scandal, which also involves 11 members of the Secret Service.
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He said he regretted that the scandal had diverted attention from Obama's diplomacy at a Latin America summit.Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
"I can speak for myself and my fellow chiefs: We're embarrassed by what occurred in Colombia, though we're not sure exactly what it is," Dempsey added, according to NBC News.Pentagon press secretary George Little said that the military members who are being investigated were assigned to support the Secret Service in preparation for Obama's official visit to Cartagena.He said they were not directly involved in presidential security.
The Secret Service sent 11 of its members - including agents and uniformed officers - home from Colombia amid the allegations.
Several locals told NBC's sister network Telemundo that the Americans had been to a brothel on the outskirts of Cartagena where they were drinking, partying and watching a strip show, before bringing women back to an upscale beachfront hotel near where Obama was due to stay when he arrived the following day.
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