US officials accused of nixing internal probes into sex assaults, hiring hookers by overseas diplomats

Image
ANI Washington
Last Updated : Jun 11 2013 | 4:00 PM IST

A whistleblower in the State Department has accused high-ranking staff of a massive cover up.

The whistleblower claimed that high-ranking kept a lid on findings that members of then-Secretary Hillary Clinton's security and the Belgian ambassador solicited prostitutes.

According to the New York Post, a chief investigator for the agency's inspector general wrote a memo outlining eight cases that were disrupted by senior officials.

One of the cases included an instance of interference by Clinton's chief of staff, Cheryl Mills.

Any mention of the cases was removed from an IG report about problems within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), which provides protection and investigates crimes involving any State Department workers overseas.

Some of the bombshell findings were that a DS agent was called off a case against US Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman over claims that he solicited prostitutes, including minors.

The memo revealed that undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy ordered the investigation ceased, and the ambassador remains in place.

At least seven agents in Clinton's security detail hired prostitutes while traveling with her in various countries, including Russia and Colombia.

Investigators called the use of prostitutes by Clinton's security agents endemic.

According to the report, the liaisons with prostitutes allegedly occurred in the same hotel where Clinton slept, according to sources familiar with the incident.

But the agents involved got little more than a wrist-slap. Three were removed from the security detail, given one-day suspensions and reassigned, the report added.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 11 2013 | 3:29 PM IST

Next Story