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Rep. Randy Forbes, (R-Va.), on why Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan should step down over the scandal.
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-- is the first and only member of congress to call for the US Secret Service director mark Solomon to resign over the prostitution scandal.
Joining us now congressman Randy Forbes member of the Judiciary Committee and the house armed services committee.
Our congressman wants its first start with white house press sector the secretary Jay Carney.
Who said that.
Then it's preposterous that you put it to politicize this this event this.
Handle your reaction.
Well first of vol Lou we're not politicizing it we're talking about the lead agency the Secret Service.
In designing and implementing security planning for the leadership of the United States of America.
And this is security planning 1011.
Page first chapter first -- Would always -- don't want the prostitutes and the other thing is we have to recognize this isn't something that checks and balances from the Secret Service.
Uncovered this is something that was only determined and brought to the public because one of the prostitutes wasn't paid.
-- we don't have but one president United States we can't afford to make these kind of slip ups.
I think this is a systematic thing that we've got to deal with.
Out we have pictures of what one of the prostitutes at the center of the scandal.
And some of her comments -- spoken about.
The incident.
She says and I want to find out how reassuring this is to you she says that this Secret Service agents involved quote never told me they were with Obama.
And that quote they were very discreet.
Your reaction.
-- well -- that's almost.
-- I mean we're talking about a culture of trusting these individuals with the security protection of the president of the United States and the rest of the leadership in this country.
And to realize that your -- and prostitutes and to subject yourself to blackmail and other types of things.
And also we don't know what kind of information they could've gotten about the president of the United States.
It would be one thing if we were talking about a single incident but this was almost a busload of individuals they're bringing him I think it's something that we have to deal with the -- perceptions matter.
Not just to people -- -- states -- but also to the rest of the world Hussein what in the world is happening to the security of the United States.
I talked earlier this week with -- armed services committee your committee chairman.
Buckman Kia he disagreed with he thinks that Mark Sullivan the -- of the Secret Service should stay in his post.
You're reasoning as to why he should should -- Lou every day we're watching Americans wake up and they realize that perceptions really do matter.
They looked in there worried about whether or not their children can afford to get a college whether that I have a job -- -- they're concerned about whether they're gonna have retirement.
And what do they say on television they -- GSA employees dressed up like -- swimming and hot -- taking the Fifth Amendment about taxpayer money.
And now they're seeing again the lead agency for security in the country.
The secured the Secret Service having -- prostitutes con man and valley one of the basic.
Promises that we effort of keeping this country secure.
And I think they're looking for us not just to be angry not just the way but to actually change the system to make sure we're fixing.
What they view as a broken government I think this is a bigger systematic problem and it needs to be fixed -- Mark Sullivan the Secret Service director -- and -- -- on the head of Homeland Security congressman.
-- she also stepped down.
At what point does the buck stop.
Well I think one of the things that most of the American people want to say in most of us in congress want to say.
It's some degree of accountability we're tired of whether it's fast and furious or whether it's this situation with.
The Secret Service or whether it's the GSA.
Constantly look and every time we have these problems send this is just politics.
At some particular point in town we've got to have some accountability.
And that needs somebody has to step up and say we're gonna change the system.
-- that opportunity is certainly before the congress right now on this president.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta 27 trips since last July as secretary of defense to the West Coast.
Let's just about three a month.
It enormous cost to the taxpayer.
All right yup I have not heard the armed services committee.
Or the Republican leadership for that matter in congress horse in the senate.
Step -- and say this is outrageous.
Well Lou I think first of all it is outrageous but the reason you haven't heard -- saying that's because we've been focused on another issue.
Which is protecting the rule -- the country just this week we had hearings with the secretary.
The big question I was concerned about is what's gonna happen to the United States as far as getting into additional military conflict.
Are we going to just rely on international permission before we do that are we gonna day they war powers act and make sure that we have permission from congress.
-- -- the issues that I think are even greater.
Then whatever expenditures the secretary might be making.
He told you all that there -- an inch from war with Syria.
Is that a war you want your fellow Republicans -- Republican leadership.
My lord have we learned nothing here.
Lou I don't think it's a -- that anybody wants I think the most important thing.
Is that we not have a situation.
Where the administration is engaging in military conflict without complying with the war powers act which is to me that they're gonna get permission from congress.
And when I asked the secretary that always measure them but three things what they say what they don't say in the actions that they -- The secretary specifically said that they would not take any military action without a consensus permission from the world community whatever that might be -- secondly he refused to say that they would have to have permission from congress.
And the third thing we know in Libya they took that action without permission of congress.
Perhaps they can apply to the United Nations.
To pay for the gasoline -- -- jet fuel and that.
That jetliner that secretary is flying to the West Coast.
As he contemplates war with Syria.
Congressman always good -- and thanks for being here thank you live.
