Joe Biden refused to respond to questions regarding the cocaine discovered on the White House premises on Sunday.
Watch:
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre downplayed the incident during a briefing on Wednesday, indicating that the administration had no official comment on the matter.
A Politico report cited a law enforcement official who stated that it was unlikely for the suspect to be identified. The report explained that due to the discovery of the cocaine in a highly trafficked area of the West Wing, determining the source of the drug would be challenging.
The report continued, mentioning that the small amount of cocaine was found in a cubby area designated for storing electronics within the West Exec basement entryway into the West Wing. This area is accessible to authorized personnel and visitors, including those participating in West Wing tours.
When asked about the likelihood of apprehending the suspect, the official acknowledged the difficulties, stating, “It’s gonna be very difficult for us to do that because of where it was.”
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, mentioned that “Even if there were surveillance cameras, unless you were waving it around, it may not have been caught. It’s a bit of a thoroughfare. People walk by there all the time.”
However, numerous inquiries have arisen, with conflicting reports emerging based on a dispatch call originating from the White House on Sunday. The call suggested that cocaine was discovered in the executive mansion library, a space where Hunter Biden reportedly had access.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) has taken the lead in seeking answers, addressing a letter to the Secret Service to obtain information regarding the illicit drug.
In the letter, Senator Cotton states, “I write regarding the Secret Service’s recent discovery of white powder, reportedly confirmed to be cocaine, inside the White House. According to public reports, the Secret Service has not yet confirmed where in the West Wing the cocaine was found.”
“I urge you to release that information quickly, as the American people deserve to know whether illicit drugs were found in an area where confidential information is exchanged,” he continued. “If the White House complex is not secure, Congress needs to know the details, as well as your plan to correct any security flaws. Please answer the following questions as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, July 14.”
“Further, please contact my staff to arrange a briefing on this matter, as well as the provision of any answers that are classified or law enforcement sensitive,” he added.
1. Who has access to the White House complex without passing through any security screening? Please provide a complete list of all such individuals.
2. Who has access to the White House complex while subject to lesser security screening requirements than the most complete screening required of individuals accessing the West Wing? Please provide a complete list of all such individuals, along with a description of the lesser screening requirements and the reasons such individuals are not subject to complete screening.
3. The Secret Service’s Annual Report for FY2022 notes that the Secret Service’s Personnel Screening K-9 program screens approximately 10 million “visitors to the exterior of The White House each year.” How many visitors to the interior of the White House are screened by the Secret Service’s K-9s each year? Please provide a description of the circumstances under which the Secret Service chooses not to use K-9 screening for West Wing visitors.
4. In the past five years, how often has the Secret Services encountered illegal drugs at the White House complex? How often were these drugs detected during security screenings, and how often were these drugs encountered inside secure areas?
Section 3056A of Title 18, U.S. Code, provides members of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division with the authority to “make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony.” Illegally possessing cocaine is a crime under federal law. If the Secret Service discovers the identity of the individual who brought illicit cocaine into the White House complex, will they make an arrest under this provision?
6. How often does the Secret Service audit its security procedures for the White House complex and adjust those procedures to correct potential flaws? Please provide details regarding the most recent complete audit, including whether it was conducted by the Secret Service or another entity.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has joined in demanding answers about the cocaine incident at the White House.
Don’t worry @PressSec, we Oversight Republicans are going to ask Secret Service about cocaine found in the WH. I’d also like to know if WH staff and admin, as well as Hunter Biden, can all pass a drug test. And what list of meds or drugs is Joe taking?
While the White House may aim to swiftly move on from the recent cocaine incident that took place during the July 4th weekend, Republicans in Congress show no interest in disregarding the matter.
