Secret Service Boss: Sorry About the Hookers

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan testified on Capitol Hill today, apologizing for the first time for the Colombian prostitution scandal—even as the Senate Homeland Security Committee brought new indiscretions to light. Employees "did some really dumb things," Sullivan said, assuring lawmakers that the behavior "is not representative" of the Service as a whole. "I am deeply disappointed and I apologize." He also lashed out at this report, saying that "the notion that this kind of behavior is condoned or authorized is just absurd."

Sullivan has had strong support on Capitol Hill, but the Washington Post says lawmakers seemed "increasingly skeptical" as the hearing went on. Chairman Joseph Lieberman said the committee had uncovered 64 other allegations of sexual misconduct—including one agent who was caught with an underage prostitute in 2008. Sullivan said that employee had been dismissed a month later. Another allegation involved non-consensual sex, but Sullivan said law enforcement had investigated and dismissed the matter. The rest involved sending naughty emails or drunk driving. (More Mark Sullivan stories.)