Mark Sullivan, the director of the Secret Service, plans to step down and announce his retirement Friday after 30 years with the agency, administration sources say.
Sullivan has served as director since 2006 during the Bush administration. The agency found itself in the middle of a controversy after a prostitution scandal during President Obama's trip to Colombia in April 2012.
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson accused Sullivan of misleading Congress during a testimony in May of last year about the scandal, something other senators called "unfair."


Any word on whether the White House gardener is staying on?
Let the snarky scandal comments commence in 3...2...1...
@Feisty,
Mark Sullivan is resigning BECAUSE of a scandal involving the White House gardener!
Silly you!
Bali Bob .... Too funny!
Ron Johnson is a real piece of work. Was a real piece of work. I forgot Hillary set him straight.
You got me on that one Bob! LMAO!
Wow, Republicans sure have been "eating their own" lately (which always pleases me by the way).
Nominations for new Secret Service Director: Ironman
Wow, 30-years of service to our country protecting Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama.
Now, rather than all of the partisan political hyperbole and rants beginning to be displayed in this discussion thread (S.O.P., same ol'- same ol') .... we should ALL be saying...
"Thank you Mark Sullivan for your non-partisan and loyal service to our nation for 30 years, and for keeping our elected Presidents and their families safe for 30 years."
Men and women like you, who put country before political persuasion and who place your own lives on the line each day in selfless sacrifice for the ideal of our democratic Republic, are all too rare in our hyper-partisan and divided nation. Have a long, healthy and happy retirement.
Thank you!
American Girl . . .
Wonder how it tastes? Pretty sure Boehner has a fully-stocked bar to help them wash it all down!
Great post Robert!
Guess its not a secret..we know now.
All this @!$%# because some agents didn't pay a Hooker what she wanted. They said she wasn't as good as she said she was. Hell If I didn't get what I was paying for, I wouldn't pay her either. Why is this a problem for Rep's? The Grand old party of whore users.....
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL "Any word on whether the White House gardener is staying on?"
I heard the cook might leave - tired of cooking 'soul food'.
lol
Eric-913730 "Nominations for new Secret Service Director"
Hulk Hogan - He had more experience doing that job than Obama had in becoming President, and the results show it.
Good job Mark Sullivan, thanks for your service, but watch out, I've heard Ron Johnson, (R, WI) is drafting papers to criticize your retirement. J/K...!!
It is the first step of the Treasury towards outsourcing the Secret Service to the British who can do a better job protecting presidents, the CIA and NSA may follow suit to have MI6 - the British SIS - and Cheltenham run their intelligence just as they did with BSC.
He should have resigned before things got out of control, like any incompetent boss would have done--face reality. Don't wait for a disaster. Know your people - rule number one.
I hear he's being promoted to the head of Secret Service. Another worthless statement from the fisting deadhead.
Given the level of incompetence the man demonstrated; I'm surprised Obama is still intact.
" ...level of incompetence"? Wow! Make stupid statements, much?
Since President Obama was elected in November 2008 the US Secret Service has investigated and dealt with more than 30 potential death threats PER DAY!!!
The president and his family are being protected by an increasingly over-stretched and under-resourced Secret Service.
More than 30 threats per day (a 400%+ increase over the threat level the Secret Service had to deal with during the presidency of George W. Bush) equals nearly 11,000 potential death threats against our elected president per year.
So, please tell us exactly how you define "incompetent"?
Robert
You're just another drone who buys into the bull@!$%# the administration puts out.
Of course, you could change my mind by posting factual evidence...but you don't have any.
Your crap has already been shown to be false. Do yourself a favor and google it, just don't try to pass your dronish nonsense off as fact. People who actually pay attention (me) know you're full of @!$%#.
You'd think it would be a secret.
It IS a secret. Simple Theory is just that, simple. What a dunderhead. Any excuse to get on here and denigrate someone. In his pea brain, if Fox didn't say it, it isn't so. Kind of like the bimbo on the commercial with the french boyfriend.
Mark Sullivan steps down as head of Secret Service, Coby G. Brooks CEO and President of Hooters of America tapped to replace him. News at 11.
Maybe that's why Scott Brown isn't running for the Senate.
@Amy,
Interesting the significance of Scott Brown not running. He was the first Great White Hope of the Tea party and did them no favors while in office. It was also believed by the Republican Leadership that he would be able to easily win John Kerry's seat should he be selected for Secretary of State, which is why the GOP wanted Susan Rice out of the way.
Dude might just have gone rogue.
Good. If he's smart, he'll become an Independent. Only way to go!
I don't see why everybody thinks it would be so easy for him to win, hell he just lost his seat, if it is so easy for him to win, why didn't he win?
TO: Bali Bob who wrote:
I don't know why the Teagaggers adopted Scott Brown in the first place. He was a "RINO" at best in the first place, and all he did was talk the wacko talk and repeat talking points, and they voted him in.
That's just how Republicans are, they believe anything anybody says, all you have to is preface it with "I'm a Republicans" and they just turn into putty, silly putty that is.
Amy B. Portland, ME
I don't know why the Teagaggers adopted Scott Brown in the first place. He was a "RINO" at best in the first place, and all he did was talk the wacko talk and repeat talking points, and they voted him in.
That's just how Republicans are, they believe anything anybody says, all you have to is preface it with "I'm a Republican" and they just turn into putty, silly putty.
Scott Brown has another centerfold coming out....... that's why he isn't running.......
:-)
Dear me....I am with Robert from Oregon...thank you Mark Sullivan for your service. Now, I would like to remark that the Secret Service has been pretty loose in the last few years. Really guys and gals, take care to avoid the press. Don't don't don't make those mistakes anymore. What were you thinking? I am glad none of these jobs are mine. I couldn't do them. I never could play chess.....
Typical 2nd term activities. Nothing to see here. Although I want to thank him for doing a superb job of having the President protected. His job was harder than any of his predecessors since threats against this President have been so heightened because of the ignorance of the far right.
Don't forget, Secret Service also has the Electronic Crimes Task Forces and, under Mr. Sullivan, they were responsible for apprehending criminals like Max Ray Butler and Albert "Segvec" Gonzalez.
No because of his violations of his oath of office. Wrongs will never be righted by another wrong!
Seeking,
Again, with the snide remarks? Perhaps Obama should be lucky to have a person willing to take a bullet for him...I'm sure he didn't want to go through another four years protecting whackos on the far left.
Seems like a lot of people have a BIG problem with swearing to the oath to protect America and its citizens. It is just a bunch of useless wordage for the ceremony. It doesn't mean anything any longer. Pathetic the route America has taken.
Ignorance of the far right? Ignorance of the far left you mean. This president is tanking this country on purpose and you call the far right ignorant? That is true ignorance. Look away while your savior does the same exact things Hitler did and you love it. Ignorant.
Yeah.....the President is tanking the economy.....that's why the DOW is above 14000 right?
TO: JK1963 who wrote:
At least, not without his prostitutes. (Do you even know what this is about?)
Of course...he was the fall guy for the prostitute scandal...much like Clinton was the fall guy (person) for Lybia...much like Bill Clinton with his scandal...wait he didn't resign...they are all falling to protect their superiors. It's no different than on the right...
My feeling is he worked for 30 years and its time to retire. However, I also believe he does not like the new law when previous Presidents and their spouses will continue getting secret service protection for the rest of their lives. It changed the policy of 10 years after leaving office to life time. That is a burden on the Secret Service. All the Ex-Presidents are millionaires and are financially capable of paying for their own protection.
... maybe he is opening a brothel
BCWC . . . and one that specializes in idiots who don't know how to get the money up front?
Probably upset with the fact his Security associates did`nt call him so he could get to Columbia and have some fun as well
After just leaving one ?
SeekingSanity.............Thats appropriate because we are seeking just that with that Idiot in the White House. When you receive your taxes I`m sure you`ll have a differant impression about that clown, and the people that really protect him. He, like yourself don`t really matter that`s why the security detail decided it would be better to hang out with the "Ladies of Columbia" than to waste time worrying about him. Besides, they had a better time.
You do know what an "Advance Team" is, yes?
@Noid,
You do know what an "Advance Team" is, yes?
Wasn't that a TV show with Mister T?
I pity the fool!
another one bites the dust. The most corrupt WH money can buy.
Dotties girl, I'm beginning to wonder if you're Ann Coulter pretending to be a woman pretending to be a girl . . .
Really? I guess you never read about Watergate.
The most corrupt WH money can buy.
Actually turned out to be the WH that money COULDN'T buy.
Sullivan became Director in 2006 under good old what's-his-name....but of course he was a complete stand-up, straight arrow, good guy back then and was just waiting for Barack Obama to get elected before becoming "corrupt" - eh, Dotties girl?
P.S. - From the link in the article above:
Mark Sullivan has been the recipient of numerous awards for superior performance throughout his 22 year tenure with the Secret Service and his 27 year career in federal law enforcement. Most recently, he was awarded a 2005 Distinguished Presidential Rank Award.
2005....2005.....dang, help me out here, Dotties girl - who was President in 2005 again?
Ann Coulters a GIRL?
Man!
I have seen some serious ODS but this one may be terminall! lol
May be the most expensive and unprincipled (both parties). Also the executive legislative all the way to the Judicial and the 4th estate (free press).
Sorry, award for most corrupt WH was already given to GW and Chainsaw - lifetime awards too.
twodogs, or any other Liberal here
So what about the neocon regime of the Bush administration bothers you that The Obama administration isn't doing? Tyranny slaps a smooth talking pimp on the scene and suddenly you think there is a difference because Obama has some skin pigment, is good looking, and who's last job was nailing posters to telephone poles?
YOU are being sold out, just as the rest of us that didn't vote for Obama. I just can't understand the Liberal mindset. Personal accountability, responsibility, the desire to succeed with minimal Government interference, Freedom, dignity, self reliance, Liberty, and common rights.
Why do I NEVER hear a Liberal talk of these things?
Because we're not hypocrites. All you guys do is TALK about them, you do not believe in these values at all. You want to control people and that is all you want. Control of women, control of bedrooms, your own definition of rape, it goes on and on. You want to whore the country off to the military industrial complex and you want acceptance for that? Your tired old white guy day is rapidly coming to a conclusion and your heads are exploding. It would be funny it you weren't such a pitiful lot.
Mel.....the "idiot in the White House" left in January 2009. That special recognition is reserved for our boy "W" and his henchmen. "W" couldn't speak in complete sentences. You may despise our current President if you wish, but your comments are mis-placed.
After 30 years in the same job wouldn't anyone want to and deserve to retire? He has done a great job. He kept several Presidents from the unthinkable and I wish him well. Under his leadership Presidents Reagan, GHW Bush, Clinton, GW Bush and Obama were protected from would be assassins and nut jobs who would want to harm our Presidents. That is quite a record.
I worked with the White House Communications Agency 82 - 87 (Reagan). I've been on many Advance missions. The Secret Service are unquestionably the best of the best. You can't imagine the pressure these people work under. A couple of Agents were stupid, did something that basically ruined their careers, and put a stain on an agency of very dedicated individuals. I think the real crime was making a political football out of it... I think they should fire all those who were "petty" about the matter.... I would like to see those heads roll.
Adler, POTUS Reagan got shot, yeah, great job there.
Imagine if the Secret Service hadn't been there
Don't have to, it was the LOCAL POLICE who disarmed the shooter. Re-watch the video.
Again, FAILED to protect the POTUS. Who was SHOT.
myownthoughts, you should learn to think and research. Tell your nonsense to Timothy McCarthy, the secret service agent who was wounded because he turned himself directly into the line of fire preventing Reagan from being killed. Or Jerry Parr, the agent who stretched himself across Reagan's back and pushed him into the limo, saving his life. You are a misinformed idiot. Fox not have a special on this lately or something?
Amused..,
1) POTUS was shot. FAILURE OF PRIMARY MISSION
2) Assassin was tackled and disarmed. BY WASHINGTON D.C. METRO COPS
3) where the other bullets would have hit is unknown by you, so your rant that SS-Agent McCarthy did save RR is an UNKNOWN. James Brady was shot in the head, do you think he was the target, or 'just caught one'.
4) SS is non partisan, so assigning L/R to this is just illogical.
5) Name calling is for Elementary school, if you are an adult, please conduct yourself as one.
6) Six shots were fired, it was the last one that hit RR. EPIC FAILURE, it would have been somewhat understandable if RR had been hit with the first, even the second shot. But by the sixth shot the SS should had RR protected, they didn't. This was not their finest protection detail.
7) Fox News did not exist until several years later.
Guarding hotel halls and bathroom stalls...
30 years sucking on the public tit.. geeze there's something wrong here.
*facepalm*
@Noid,
*facepalm*
Heard that "whack" from here!
& what exactly is it that YOU have been doing that puts you in that exalted position of being so wise & so readily able to attack a dedicated public servant. if u can't say something nice, try @ least decent.......or just shut up!
well Hal.. I did not spend the night at the ... and well nor did i vote for Obuba but have all my senses and much more know how to use them. Something that troubles me is that almost Every Federal agent seems to need to carry a GUN to do his job, albeit paper pushing or guarding the Prez 49/51% elect from real or imaginary. Fact is that so many government heat packing (concealed carry permitted) persons in DC that there is a shortage of ammo for the public and military. .. as said something is not right.
warren . . .
Blame that problem on all of the fear-mongers who are stock-piling weapons whose sole desire is to take OUT the government and the military and their local police force. Maybe that should be something that is looked at - a check on how much AMMUNITION is sold to an individual. Just a thought . . .
try looking in a mirror. You'll find what "is not right".
I suspect the other "shoe" is about to fall.
Now that Obama has been ordained, expect more revelations.
Man what a pension that will be ! Taxpayers get ready !
He'll ask for his job back when he has a real president to protect.
He should have done a better job furnishing whores to our brave men and women in the Secret Service.
Maybe he's quitting his S.S. job in order to pursue such an ambition.
Mark Sullivan is a man of integrity. He served his nation with distinction and is deserving of this nations highest honor. I had the privilege of serving with him and can personally attest to his outstanding character.
Thanks, for pointing out the big picture. That is what we forget because it is now rare.
Yes he served with integrity for 22 years. End was politics (right or wrong).
Q: Exactly how long did B. Arnold "served his nation with distinction and is deserving of this nations highest honor" before his 'lil..error ?
Another high level offical bailing from the Obama administration. Cabinet members, LE and who is next to jump ship. There must be something terribly amiss in the inner circle. We the public will not find out until it is too late for us.
Guess obama was afraid he might tell the truth. That or after serving under real leaders he felt his integrity could not allow him to serve under obama anymore.
I guess Mark Sullivan finally realized the POS in the WH isn't worth protecting. Good for him!
I guess it's not a secret anymore!
And those senators know all about 'unfair', don't they?
The Congress represents the People, lying to them IS lying to us. If he did lie, glad he's gone.
Sullivan has 30 years in and is retiring while there is still a federal retirement program in place. Can't much blame him. I don't see the relevance in today's retirement announcement and last year's Columbia incident. He would already be out ~ retired or cashiered ~ if that was hanging over his head for the matter has been finalized for months. I guess 30 years civil service is not a big enough story so they had to drag in some trash to spice it up.
Actually he did a great job, under President O.
For a description of the "Eternal Kingdom" which will follow the One Thousand
Year Kingdom "reign of Christ", one may read Revelation chapters 21 and 22.
Actually he did a great job under President Obama.
For a description of the eternal kingdom which will follow this one thousand
year kingdom, one may read Revelation chapters 21 and 22.
That huge sucking sound is either:
1. The vacuum of all the folks leaving this administration
or
2. Obama's talking again.
Social Security Insurance has been referred to as an Entitlement although the money was deducted from the workers paycheck. How do government employees refer to the LIFE time payments to them as simply retirement. Not only did I have to pay for my retirement but for some parasite government puke to boot.