By Samantha Schmidt, The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — A Secret Service agent on Vice President Mike Pence’s detail has reportedly been suspended after meeting with a prostitute at a Maryland hotel.
The incident, which occurred late last week, was initially reported by CNN and confirmed by the Associated Press, both citing unnamed sources.
A spokesman from the Secret Service confirmed in a statement to The Washington Post it “is aware of an alleged incident involving an off-duty Secret Service employee.”
The employee was required to surrender all equipment and was placed on administrative leave, the spokesman said. The employee’s security clearance and access to all Secret Service facilities has also been suspended.
“We are exploring the full range of disciplinary actions,” the spokesman said.
Police responded to a call from the Maryland hotel manager who became suspicious of activity in one of the rooms, CNN reported, citing multiple law enforcement sources. One source told CNN the agent was caught after police saw him exiting the hotel. This was not a sting, the source said.
The agent was arrested and charged with solicitation, and later self-reported his arrest to the Secret Service, CNN reported.
“The Secret Service takes allegations of criminal activity very seriously,” the spokesman said in the statement. The incident is being investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility, he said.
“The Secret Service is committed to ensuring that all employees are held to the highest level of professional and ethical standards of conduct,” the statement said.
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