The Secret Service confirmed the presence of cocaine in the West Wing of the White House, believed to have been brought in by an individual authorized to be there. This development has led Republican lawmakers to raise broader questions about security measures and drug use at the presidential residence.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) expressed his concerns to the U.S. Secret Service regarding the ongoing investigation into the discovery of cocaine at the White House. Senator Cotton wrote a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle asking for information about the location of the substance found within the White House complex. The senator requested a prompt response. He emphasized the importance of determining whether illicit drugs were present in an area where sensitive information is exchanged. The letter included a series of questions seeking clarification on the security protocols of the complex and requesting the Secret Service’s plan to address any identified security flaws.
Senator Cotton, who serves on the Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism Subcommittee, has asked for a comprehensive list of people who can enter the White House without full security screenings. He also requested information on individuals with lesser security screening requirements than those entering the West Wing. He further asked for information on the Secret Service’s use of K-9 screenings and details about audits conducted on their security procedures.
Additionally, the letter inquired about the frequency of encounters with illegal drugs at the White House complex over the past five years. Referring to a section of the U.S. Code, Sen. Cotton questioned whether the Secret Service would exercise its authority to make warrantless arrests for offenses committed in their presence or for any felony under federal law if the individual responsible for bringing cocaine into the White House is identified.
Sen. Cotton set a deadline of 5 p.m. on July 14 for the Secret Service director to respond. He also requested a briefing on the matter and the provision of classified or law enforcement-sensitive answers to his questions.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refrained from providing specific details about the location where the cocaine was found and the potential consequences arising from the Secret Service’s investigation. She assured reporters that the substance was discovered in a heavily trafficked area of the West Wing, regularly accessed by visitors and staff.
The Secret Service’s chief of communications, Anthony Guglielmi, stated they would do their utmost to identify the person who brought in the illegal substance. He mentioned that the area where the cocaine was found is closed to the public but accessible to authorized staff, media personnel, guests, and others with business in the West Wing during the security screening process.
Former President Donald Trump, a candidate for the 2024 presidential election, expressed skepticism on Truth Social, questioning whether the cocaine found in the West Wing was intended for anyone other than Hunter and Joe Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified that President Biden and his family were at Camp David during the weekend when the substance was discovered.
During an interview, Mike Pence, a possible candidate for the 2024 election, expressed his disbelief and raised concerns about potential media coverage if cocaine had been discovered in the West Wing during the Trump-Pence administration. Pence further disclosed that the substance was allegedly found in the library of the residence.
The White House was briefly evacuated on Sunday night after the Secret Service discovered the illicit substance, initially described as an “unknown item.” The finding prompted the deployment of a hazmat team and the D.C. Fire Department, and EMS to the West Wing.