Two more Secret Service employees are leaving the agency over the Colombia prostitution scandal, while a third is appealing his planned removal, the Secret Service announced tonight.

The agency also said that two other employees have been cleared of wrongdoing "and will face appropriate administrative action."

In a statement, Assistant Director Paul Morrissey said two employees resigned, while "the Secret Service is moving to permanently revoke the security clearance of one other individual."

"The Federal Security Clearance process allows for an appeal associated with any permanent revocation,"' Morrissey said. "If the security clearance action is upheld, and the clearance is permanently revoked, this individual must separate from the Secret Service."

That brings to nine the number of Secret Service officials who have resigned, retired or been fired over allegations of bringing prostitutes to hotel rooms in Cartagena, Colombia.

The actions now account for all 12 agents initially implicated in the prostitution scandal. But U.S.Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said "the entire investigation is not over."

King's committee has requested detailed information about the Secret Service's operation in Cartagena.

Up to a dozen members of the military also face discipline over the incident that took place just two days before President Obama arrived for the Summit of the Americans, April 13-15.

Today's announcement came shortly after Obama defended the Secret Service, saying that the "knuckleheads" implicated in the scandal shouldn't discredit the entire agency.

"The Secret Service, these guys are incredible," Mr. Obama told talk-show host Jimmy Fallon. "They protect me, they protect our girls -- a couple of knuckleheads shouldn't detract from that they do."

Of the incident in Colombia, Obama said: "What they were thinking, I don't know. That's why they're not there anymore."

Before today, six men had either resigned, retired or been fired. Another has been cleared of serious wrongdoing, but faces administrative action.

Said Morrissey: "The Secret Service is committed to conducting a full, thorough and fair investigation in this matter, and will not hesitate to take appropriate action should any additional information come to light."

Today's announcement: