In yet another blow to the Presidential Secret Service detail, agent Rafael Prieto committed suicide after an extramarital affair with a foreigner was uncovered.
Prieto, 48, was assigned to the protection detail of President Barrack Obama and had worked for the Secret Service for 22 years. As the Secret Service was cleaning its own house in light of numerous embarrassing scandals involving prostitutes in Colombia and Brazil, Prieto’s affair came to light.
Prieto was also the agent in charge of the White Plains, New York Secret Service office.
Secret Service agents are required to notify their employer of any relationship with foreigners in case that person might compromise the agents ability to protect the president. Prieto admitted to the 6-year long affair when his superiors confronted him as they were conducting an internal investigation. The Secret Service was investigating if Prieto had violated any agency rules by conducting the affair without notifying them.
AP is reporting that Prieto took his life last week by carbon monoxide poisoning in Washington, D.C.
Prieto’s Mexican lover has not been identified and he is reported to have been estranged from his wife. He was never accused or charged with any official misconduct.
