A former FBI supervisory special agent engaged in repeated misconduct involving prostitutes both in the United States and overseas while on official assignment, according to a summary report released Tuesday by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The investigation was launched following a referral from the FBI itself, after the agent’s inappropriate behavior was internally reported.
According to the OIG, the agent “solicited and used prostitutes” while working abroad and also while traveling domestically for FBI assignments. Notably, he used a government-issued mobile device to facilitate these transactions—an action that violates both DOJ and FBI internal policies.
The watchdog report further stated that the agent failed to disclose ongoing relationships with foreign nationals, including prostitutes he dated during his overseas assignments.
“During its investigation, the OIG found indications that the then-SSA [Supervisory Special Agent] had failed to self-report close or continuous contacts with the foreign national prostitutes,” the summary noted.
The former agent’s conduct reportedly occurred on multiple occasions, with transactions arranged via his FBI phone. Though the actions were clearly in breach of protocol, criminal prosecution was ultimately declined. The OIG report did not provide an explanation for the decision not to pursue charges.
The name of the agent and the specific countries where the misconduct occurred were withheld from the public summary. Additionally, the report did not indicate when the behavior took place or what, if any, disciplinary actions followed beyond the agent’s separation from the bureau.
The revelations echo earlier reporting from The New York Times, which in March detailed allegations that FBI agents had engaged with prostitutes in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Some of the reported misconduct happened between 2009 and 2018—ironically during training programs aimed at combating human trafficking.
In response to those reports, the FBI told The Times it had “taken swift action once alerted to the behavior” and emphasized that all individuals involved “were held accountable and no longer work for the FBI.”
During his February confirmation process, incoming FBI Director Kash Patel pledged to overhaul the bureau and restore public trust, citing the need for strict accountability at every level.
The Justice Department has not confirmed whether the recent OIG findings are directly linked to the incidents cited by The New York Times.