Senator Chuck Grassley released the following statement after the Washington Post reported that the White House was aware of evidence that its own personnel was entangled in the prostitution scandal involving several Secret Service agents in Colombia. Two years ago, Grassley questioned the White House extensively about the possibility of its own people being involved, but the Obama administration stonewalled his inquiries and refused to respond.
Here is an April 20, 2012 letter to former Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan and Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Charles Edwards regarding other involvement, including White House staff, in the prostitution scandal in Colombia. Here is an April 23, 2012 letter from Grassley to White House Chief Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler about comments made by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney following questions Grassley had presented to Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan. Here is a follow-up letter from Sept. 20, 2012 to Ruemmler regarding the “review” conducted by the White House Counsel into allegations of the involvement of White House staff in the prostitution scandal.
Here is a comment from Grassley about the news from the Washington Post.
“The assurances by the President’s press secretary to the American people, Congress and the White House press corps about the prostitution scandal in Colombia are just part of a pattern of deception by this administration in an effort to save the White House from embarrassment. As I said at the time, a weekend investigation with a predetermined outcome doesn’t meet the smell test. I had asked White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler to explain how she came to a definite conclusion so fast. It’s now clear why the White House wouldn’t be transparent and it took the press to uncover the truth.”
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