Yet another scandal: A US ambassador soliciting underage prostitutes?

**Posted by Phineas

It started with the dial already set to “Bad:” accusations of sexual assault, illegal drug rings, and members of former Secretary of State Clinton’s security detailΒ hiring call girls. On top of that were charges in an Inspector General’s report that high-ranking officials at State had interfered with investigations by the Diplomatic Security Service’s (DSS) criminal division and the Inspector General’s office. The charges were so serious that, as my blog-buddy ST reported yesterday, Clinton’s apologists broke out the ultimate Obama administration defense: “We knew nothing until we heard about it on the news!”

And yet now, what started out as “bad” has gone to “God awful:”

A DS agent was called off a case against US Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman over claims that he solicited prostitutes, including minors.

β€œThe agent began his investigation and had determined that the ambassador routinely ditched his protective security detail in order to solicit sexual favors from both prostitutes and minor children,” says the memo.

β€œThe ambassador’s protective detail and the embassy’s surveillance detection team . . . were well aware of the behavior.”

Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy ordered the investigation ceased, and the ambassador remains in place, according to the memo.

Gutman was a big Democratic donor before taking the post, having raised $500,000 for President Obama’s 2008 campaign and helping finance his inaugural.

Emphases added.

Jim Geraghty quotes Foreign Policy’s report ofΒ the Ambassador’s denialΒ (1):

In a fast-developing story, U.S. ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman has been named as the diplomat accused of soliciting β€œsexual favors from both prostitutes and minor children,” according to State Department documents obtained by NBC News. Gutman denied the allegations, in a statement to The Cable and other outlets.

β€œI am angered and saddened by the baseless allegations that have appeared in the press and to watch the four years I have proudly served in Belgium smeared is devastating,” he said. β€œAt no point have I ever engaged in any improper activity.”

But notes that the Ambassador took no questions, either. Hmm…

If true, this is sickening on several levels. Not only was a US ambassador, who not only represents the United States but is also the personal representative of the president, trolling for hookers, but he may well be a pedophile, too.

On top of that, and if true, Ambassador Gutman created a huge security risk by exposing himself (ahem…) to multiple dangers. What if that Lolita under the street lamp had been a Russian or Chinese agent? Spring the honey trap and hello, blackmail! Or what if, while his security detail was wondering where in the heck he had gone (2), the woman-for-rent had been working with our jihadi enemies, and we suddenly found ourselves with an ambassador kidnapped and held hostage by al Qaeda?

The mind boggles at the stupidity. Does no one under this administration take their job seriously? Does no one have a sense of honor and duty?

Okay, we all know there are good men and women all throughout the US government who do. Four of them died doing their duty in Benghazi.

And the people named in these reports acting like drug-crazed satyrs are a disgrace to them all.

PS: If you read the linked CBS and NY Post articles, two names might easily jump out at you: Cheryl Mills, who was Secretary Clinton’s Chief of Staff, and Undersecretary for Management Patrick Kennedy, both of whom reported directly to Hillary Clinton. Their names should be familiar to you because of the questionable roles they played in the Benghazi massacre and its aftermath: Mills, apparently known as Clinton’s fixer, had a fit when DCM Hicks talked alone andΒ against instructions with Congressman Chaffetz, there to investigate what had happened. On the night of the Benghazi attack, Kennedy (or someone in his office) prevented an interagency team designed for just such an emergency from taking flight to Libya. If you see a pattern here, you’re not alone.

Footnote:
(1) Great title for a thriller, no?
(2) Or were out looking for their own, apparently.

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

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