After NBC finally covered the sex scandal plaguing the Drug Enforcement Administration with a mere 18-second news brief on Tuesday's Nightly News, Wednesday's Today offered a full two-minute report on agency chief Michele Leonhart stepping down in the wake of the controversy, but used oddly positive language to describe her troubled tenure.
Correspondent Kristen Welker began the segment by noting: "She was a rising star in federal law enforcement, but now Michele Leonhart is stepping down after revelations at least ten DEA agents had 'sex parties' in Colombia involving prostitutes." Moments later, Welker highlighted Attorney General Eric Holder "calling her a 'trailblazer' for being the first woman named special agent in charge, and said, 'She has devoted her life and professional career to the defense of our nation.'"
Welker featured Republican members of Congress Jason Chaffetz and Trey Gowdy grilling Leonhart in a recent hearing and explained: "Lawmakers say one of their biggest concerns is that sensitive information may have been compromised as a result of these sex parties. Their investigation into this misconduct continues."
Following Welker's report, co-host Matt Lauer referred to the impact on the administration: "Clearly not the headlines they're looking for this morning."
On Tuesday, ABC also broke its silence on the scandal, with a 23-second news brief on World News Tonight. Wednesday's Good Morning America offered a similar minimal report:
AMY ROBACH: Well, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration is stepping down following a sex scandal involving agents.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: DEA Chief Steps Down; Fallout From 'Sex Parties' Scandal]
Michele Leonhart will retire, ending thirty-five years with the agency. A report found agents attended parties in Colombia with prostitutes paid for by drug cartels. Members of Congress were outraged when those agents were suspended instead of being fired.
While Tuesday's CBS Evening News provided a full report on the resignation, CBS This Morning gave it a scant 21 seconds:
JEFF GLOR: The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration is stepping down after heavy criticism of her response to sexual misconduct in that agency.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: DEA Chief Done; Leonhart to Step Down Amid Agent Sex Party Scandal]
A congressional committee blasted Michelle Leonhart last week after an investigation that found DEA agents in Columbia attended sex parties paid for by drug lords. The Justice Department says Leonhart retires next month.
Here is a full transcript of Welker's April 22 report:
7:10 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Now a major shake-up in Washington. In the wake of mounting pressure, the chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration stepping down over her handling of a sex scandal involving DEA agents. NBC's Kristen Welker's at the White House she's got more on this. Hi, Kristen.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: DEA "Sex Party" Scandal; Chief Steps Down Amid Growing Criticism]
KRISTEN WELKER: Matt, good morning to you. Michele Leonhart has led the DEA since 2007 and has been with the agency for thirty-five years, but now she's resigning amidst a cloud of controversy involving some of the very agents she led.
She was a rising star in federal law enforcement, but now Michele Leonhart is stepping down after revelations at least ten DEA agents had "sex parties" in Colombia involving prostitutes. Some of the women hired by drug cartels.
JIM CAVANAUGH [NBC NEWS LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST]: This is all a national security issue when criminal cartels can get that close to agents.
WELKER: The Attorney General announced Leonhart's resignation on Tuesday, calling her a "trailblazer" for being the first woman named special agent in charge, and said, "She has devoted her life and professional career to the defense of our nation." This comes after an inspector general report last month, which detailed those parties allegedly occurring between 2005 and 2008.
REP. JASON CHAFFETZ [R-UT]: Law enforcement is not above the law. And this sexual misconduct cannot be – cannot be accepted.
WELKER: Last week, Leonhart was grilled by lawmakers, who demanded to know why the agents were suspended, not fired.
CHAFFETZ: Can you revoke their security clearance?
LEONHART: I can't revoke their security clearance.
REP. TREY GOWDY [R-SC]: Honestly, what power do you have?
LEONHART: What I can do is build on and improve mechanisms.
WELKER: All this as the Secret Service has been reeling from a string of scandals, one of them dating back to 2012, when more than a dozen agents were linked to prostitutes in Colombia during an unrelated trip.
REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS [D-MD]: So what we're trying to do is get rid of that culture of complacency and that culture that has allowed these types of activities to happen.
WELKER: Leonhart is expected to leave in mid-May. We tried to reach her but got no response. Lawmakers say one of their biggest concerns is that sensitive information may have been compromised as a result of these sex parties. Their investigation into this misconduct continues. Matt, Savannah, back to you.
LAUER: Alright, Kristen Welker at the White House. Clearly not the headlines they're looking for this morning.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: No.
