No criminal charges against US military troops in Colombian prostitution scandal

Washington, July 19 (ANI): Seven U.S. Army soldiers and two Marines are receiving administrative punishments, but not facing criminal charges, for their involvement in the Secret Service prostitution scandal in Colombia this year, the military has said.

According to CBS News, U.S. officials said one Air Force member has been reprimanded, and decisions were pending on two Navy sailors.

The U.S. Southern Command, headed by General Douglas Fraser, conducted the investigation into the involvement of members of the military in the Colombian prostitution scandal, which brought shame to the elite presidential protection force.

"Of the 12 service members involved, nine have been served with Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP)," U.S. Southern Command said in a statement.

"Of the nine served with NJP, three have exercised their right to request a court martial," it said.

The military service members were assigned to support the Secret Service in preparations for a visit to the coastal resort of Cartagena by President Barack Obama.

All of the military had behind-the-scenes roles and were not directly involved in presidential security.

A dozen Secret Service officers, agents and supervisors were implicated in the Colombia scandal.

Eight have been forced out of the agency, three were cleared of serious misconduct and at least two employees are fighting to get their jobs back. (ANI)