Three more US Secret Service agents quit Friday over a sex scandal in Colombia, as President Barack Obama got his first briefing on the notorious incident by the agency's director.
The new resignations now bring to six the number of agents who have lost their jobs over claims that they brought prostitutes back to their hotel in the Caribbean resort of Cartagena, host for last weekend's Summit of the America's.
The Secret Service said in a statement announcing the resignations that a twelfth member of the elite protection agency had been implicated in the scandal, and been placed on administrative leave.
It said one employee had been cleared of misconduct, but would face administrative action.
Mr Obama was meanwhile briefed on Friday in the Oval Office by the Director of the Secret Service Mark Sullivan, a senior US official said on condition of anonymity.
The US military earlier said it was investigating 11 service members linked to the scandal in Colombia that was a huge diplomatic embarrassment and tarnished the image of the Service.
The Pentagon had initially said five troops were implicated and later said there were 10 suspects.
Six suspects were from the US Army's 7th Special Forces Group, two from the Marine Corps, two from the Navy and one from the Air Force, said a spokesman for US Southern Command, which oversees forces in Central and South America.
As the investigation was still underway, the spokesman could not say why another suspect had emerged.
An Air Force colonel in charge of the investigation flew to Colombia on Monday to gather facts in the case and was due return to the United States probably over the weekend. He then will interview the suspects.
About 20 prostitutes were allegedly brought to the hotel, according to an account from Senator Susan Collins, who was briefed by the Secret Service.
Lawmakers say the incident raised serious questions about security and the work of the Secret Service, the president's elite protection squad.
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