Female Secret Service agent took control of investigation into the Cartagena prostitution scandal
The Secret Service agent who spearheaded the initial investigation into the Cartagena prostitution scandal is a woman and 21-year veteran. NBC’s Kristen Welker reports.
>>> there are growing calls for members of congress to look beyond just the 12 employees investigation in the colombian scandal.
>> reporter: secret service agent paula reed was on the 2001 inaugural day. colleagues say she was the cream of the krob then. now the 21-year veteran has become one of the agency’s highest ranking african-americans. she spearheaded the agency’s initial response to the prostitution scandal in cartagena. sounding the alarm to washington, just hours before the president’s arrival. today the secret service said she responded swiftly and took control of the situation, and initiated the investigation.
>> she acted decisively, appropriately, and i can’t help but wonder if there had been more women as part of that detail, if this ever would have ever happened.
>> reporter: the scandal dominated this morning’s talk shows, with senator joe lieberman echoing calls for a white house quirly.
>> the white house ought to be conducting its own internal investigation of white house personnel who were in cartagena.
>> from the moment this scandal broke, until now, there is no attempt to cover everything over. every possible lead is being examined.