WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to adopt a zero tolerance policy for employees who fuel the demand for human trafficking through the solicitation of prostitution. Grassley's request follows recent news reports that at least two Federal Air Marshals were under investigation by the Transportation Security Administration for recording encounters with prostitutes on government-issued cell phones.
In 2012, Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department watchdogs found that U.S. Secret Service employees paid for sex while in Colombia, which led to new agency guidance regarding the off-duty conduct of employees. However, that guidance failed to explicitly ban the procurement of commercial sex. Both the U.S. Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration operate within Department of Homeland Security.
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Grassley noted the State Department and Justice Department positions that the purchase of sex increases the demand for human trafficking and sex slavery. Grassley called on Johnson to establish a zero tolerance policy for employees who purchase, procure or accept commercial sex.
Grassley sent similar letters to the State Department and Justice Department following allegations of misconduct by diplomats and federal law enforcement employees.
Text of Grassley's letter to the Department of Homeland Security
