F.B.I. Agents Engaged in Sexual Misconduct Abroad
According to a recent investigation by the Justice Department’s watchdog, F.B.I. agents stationed overseas were found to have engaged in sexual activities with prostitutes in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand. This misconduct occurred even as some bureau employees were attending training sessions aimed at combating human trafficking, a serious issue that often exploits vulnerable women. The findings were made public on Thursday in response to a lawsuit filed by The New York Times.
The report, which spans the years from 2009 to 2018, sheds light on the troubling behavior of F.B.I. personnel abroad. It describes a culture within the bureau where agents frequently paid for or accepted sexual services while mingling with one another and local law enforcement officials. This environment has created an impression of a lax attitude towards serious ethical standards, particularly in regions known for widespread prostitution.
This newly released information provides the most comprehensive account to date of the inappropriate conduct by F.B.I. agents while overseas. It addresses several unanswered questions stemming from a scandal that first emerged during the initial Trump administration and was largely obscured for years as government lawyers fought to keep the details under wraps. These revelations come at a time when the newly appointed F.B.I. director, Kash Patel, is pledging to reform the bureau.
Prostitution is widespread in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand, yet it remains illegal in all three nations. The F.B.I., which has made the fight against sex trafficking a top priority, explicitly prohibits its employees from engaging in paid sexual activities.
The agency has yet to provide a comment regarding these findings. Some instances of this misconduct occurred during official visits for conferences or events. For example, in 2017, F.B.I. officials attending a function in Bangkok were reported to have visited bars on two occasions, where they negotiated for sexual services in the company of local police. Notably, that same year, the Royal Thai Police co-hosted a training course with the F.B.I. and Homeland Security Investigations—a branch of the Homeland Security Department—focused on strategies to combat human trafficking.
