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Aboard a U.S. military aircraft • Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the Defense Department has suspended the security clearance of military members who are being investigated for their possible roles in the Secret Service sex scandal that took place in Colombia earlier this month.

Panetta told reporters about the disciplinary action Monday en route to Colombia, where he was making a long-scheduled visit to meet with defense officials there. It was not clear how many of the 11 had security clearances.

"My biggest concern is the issue of security and what could possibly have been jeopardized by virtue of this kind of behavior," Panetta said.

Twelve Secret Service officers, as well as the 11 military members, have been implicated in the scandal.