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Mar. 4, 2015: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder addresses reporters in Washington. (Reuters)

Attorney General Eric Holder sent a memo to employees of the Department of Justice Friday, reminding them that soliciting prostitutes is against agency rules and that violation of those rules could lead to suspension or termination.

The solicitation of prostitution threatens the core mission of the Department, not simply because it invites extortion, blackmail, and leaks of sensitive or classified information, but also because it undermines the Department's efforts to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking, the memo said.

The memo was sent weeks after a Justice Department watchdog report alleged several Drug Enforcement Administration agents attended "sex parties" with prostitutes in an unnamed host country paid for by local drug cartels.

The alleged parties took place over a period of several years. According to the report by the Justice Department inspector general, the parties were even held in agents' U.S. government-leased quarters.

The IG report found such allegations often went unreported or underreported, or were not pursued properly.

Holder said in the memo Friday that the prohibition on soliciting prostitutes also applies when employees are off duty, or in a foreign country where prostitution is legal.

The Department of Justice is in the process of reviewing security clearances of the DEA employees who attended the parties, and is investigating the disciplinary process following the accusations of sexual misconduct, a senior law enforcement official told Fox News.

"Department leadership takes very seriously the allegations laid out in the IG's report and acted quickly to remind all employees that they are prohibited from participating in commercial sex acts and will be suspended or terminated for violating the policy, a Justice Department spokeswoman said in a statement Friday.

The Associated Press and Fox News Matt Dean contributed to this report.

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Holder warns DOJ workers on soliciting prostitutes

WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- Following a Justice Department report alleging DEA agent sexual misconduct, Attorney General Eric Holder warned DOJ employees that soliciting prostitutes is a violation of policy, whether on or off duty.

In a letter released to DOJ staff Friday, Holder wrote, "I want to reiterate to all Department personnel, including attorneys and law enforcement officers, that they are prohibited from soliciting, procuring, or accepting commercial sex."

"This rule applies at all times during an individual's employment, including while off duty or on personal leave, and applies regardless of whether the activity is legal or tolerated in a particular jurisdiction, foreign or domestic," Holder wrote in his letter.

The caution comes two weeks after a report that found several Drug Enforcement Administration agents had "sex parties" with prostitutes hired by drug cartels.

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz found 10 agents, most of whom had "top secret" security clearance, had engaged in the parties with prostitutes because it was the local culture. Seven of the 10 agents admitted to being at the parties, most of which took place on U.S. government leased properties. Many of those implicated in the report received minor disciplinary action.

The Washington Post reported Holder and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates have reviewed the report and concluded the disciplinary process at the DEA was "inadequate." Holder's letter hints at increased oversight for the employees and supervisors.

"Department employees who violate these prohibitions will be subject to suspension or termination. Supervisors and managers are subject to discipline for failing to report suspected violations," Holder wrote. "The Department of Justice is measured by the conduct of those who work on its behalf. The solicitation of prostitution threatens the core mission of the Department, not simply because it invites extortion, blackmail, and leaks of sensitive or classified information, but also because it undermines the Department's efforts to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking."

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Eric Holder to DOJ staff: Never hire prostitutes

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Holder's letter follows a report from the DOJs internal oversight office released last month that contains allegations of sexual misconduct at a number of agencies. | AP Photo

Attorney General Eric Holder had a friendly reminder for Justice Department employees before the weekend: dont solicit prostitutes.

In a letter released to all department staff on Friday, Holder wrote that he want[ed] to reiterate to all Department personnel, including attorneys and law enforcement officers, that they are prohibited from soliciting, procuring, or accepting commercial sex.

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Holder wrote that, despite prostitution being legal in parts of Nevada and abroad, department employees are expected to refrain, not simply because it invites extortion, blackmail, and leaks of sensitive or classified information, but also because it undermines the Departments efforts to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking.

The letter follows a report from the DOJs internal oversight office released last month that contains allegations of sexual misconduct at a number of agencies within the Department of Justice.

The report contained specific allegations that ten agents within the Drug Enforcement Agency hired sex workers overseas for parties at an agents quarters, leased for him by the U.S. government. According to the Washington Post, these parties took place in Colombia.

Also included in the report are accusations from Colombian officials of DEA agents frequent[ing] a brothel and receiving money, gifts, and weapons from drug cartel members.

Seven of the ten agents accused of attending the parties admitted to their involvement, and the DEA imposed penalties of between two and ten-day suspensions.

As an excuse for his actions, one DEA agent told investigators that prostitution is considered a part of the local culture Holder dismissed this line of reasoning outright in his letter.

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