( CNN ) No prostitutes . No ifs , ands or buts -- and yes , that includes when and where prostitution is perfectly legal . That was the message Friday from Attorney General Eric Holder to members of the U.S. Justice Department , which includes the FBI , U.S . Marshals Service , Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives and other agencies . `` The solicitation of prostitution threatens the core mission of the department , '' Holder wrote in a memo to all personnel in the department he heads . `` ... Regardless of whether prostitution is legal or tolerated in a particular jurisdiction , soliciting prostitutes creates a greater demand for human trafficking and a consequent increase in the number of minor and adult persons trafficked into commercial sex slavery . '' Holder does n't mention specific cases of federal agents and prostitution in his memo . Nor is he dictating a new policy ; the attorney general said only that he wanted `` to reiterate to all department personnel , including attorneys and law enforcement officers , that they are prohibited from soliciting , procuring or accepting commercial sex . '' Agents behaving badly overseas . The directive comes a few weeks after a Justice Department inspector general report found DEA agents in foreign postings attended sex parties with prostitutes paid for by drug cartels , among other indiscretions . That report , by department Inspector General Michael Horowitz , cited light punishments and poor handling of sexual misconduct cases at DEA and other Justice Department agencies . Justice Department employees do n't have a monopoly on such stories : In 2012 , a group of agents and officers in the Secret Service -- which is part of the Department of Homeland Security -- and officers sent to Colombia ahead of President Barack Obama were relieved of duty and returned home amid allegations of misconduct that involved prostitution . That prostitute visit was arranged for by a DEA agent stationed in Colombia , according to Horowitz 's office . If someone from the ATF , FBI , Federal Bureau of Prisons or a federal prosecutor is caught with a prostitute they 'll be suspended or fired , according to Holder 's memo . `` This rule applies at all times during an individual 's employment , including while off duty or on personal leave . ''
Attorney General Holder reiterates Justice Department policy on prostitutes . Soliciting prostitutes is banned , even in jurisdictions where it 's legal , but applies . His prohibition comes shortly after a report involving DEA prostitutes and prostitutes .