Oskhosh, WI - Senator Ron Johnson (WI) today released a memo to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs regarding the investigation into the Secret Service Cartagena prostitution scandal.

The memo reveals that the solicitation of prostitutes may be more widespread than the public was led to believe. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has had the DHS OIG Report of Investigation related to the events in Cartagena since Sept. 26, but has yet to take action. The report found that the Department of Justice refused a request by the DHS OIG for a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty that would enable the DHS OIG to interview foreign nationals and access foreign records, including  overnight visitor logs at hotels where U.S. personnel stayed.

The Secret Service, the DHS, the DOJ, and the White House have not  provided responses to Senator Johnson's inquiries for information.

Senator Johnson said:

"The safety and security of our President and other leaders of state rests in the hands of the Secret Service. We must know if a culture exists inside the Secret Service that could jeopardize that security -  and if so - what actions need to be taken to correct it. This is a national security issue that should concern every American."

Johnson's key concerns include:

• There are discrepancies between public statements and information uncovered in the independent investigation led by the DHS OIG that suggest the Administration misled or withheld information from Congress.
• Actions taken by the USSS, the DHS, the DOJ, and the White House have prevented information related to the events in Cartagena from being known.
• USSS personnel did not regularly report contacts with foreign nationals as required between Dec. 2008-June 2012.
• It is possible that USSS personnel who took female foreign nationals back to their hotel room in Cartagena are still on the USSS payroll.

SEE MEMO HERE

In an attempt to obtain further information regarding the Cartagena incident and the investigations into it, Johnson has sent the following letters:

Oct. 9, 2012: Letter to U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan

Oct. 10, 2012: Letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Oct. 12, 2012: Letter to White House Chief of Staff Jacob Lew

Oct. 12, 2012: Letter to U.S Attorney General Eric Holder

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