Probe to review alleged State Dept. misconduct

The U.S. State Department's ability to investigate cases of wrongdoing by employees is being reviewed after a report that incidents, including sexual assaults, were covered up.

The department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security has requested a "review by outside, experienced law enforcement officers" who are working with the inspector general's office to "make expert assessments about our current procedures," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday.

An internal memo obtained by CBS News from the department's inspector general listed eight examples of alleged wrongdoing by department staff or contractors.

Among them were allegations that a security official in Beirut engaged in sexual assaults on foreign nationals, that members of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's security detail engaged prostitutes while on official travel and that an ambassador who "routinely ditched" his security detail was suspected of doing so in order to solicit prostitutes.

In addition, a drug ring operating near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad allegedly supplied contractors working there.

"We take allegations of misconduct seriously, and we investigate thoroughly," Psaki said. "All cases mentioned in the CBS report were thoroughly investigated" or are under investigation, and "the department continues to take action."

An inspector general's report in February found failings in the Diplomatic Security bureau's ability to investigate problems within the State Department.

The security service "lacks clearly stated professional investigative standards for investigative functions," according to the report.

The report CBS cited was compiled by members of the inspector general's office, including Aurelia Fedenisn, who worked there from Aug. 9, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2012.