WASHINGTON, DC: The White House was thrown into turmoil during President Joe Biden's Fourth of July celebrations as the Secret Service launched a frantic investigation into the discovery of cocaine in the West Wing. The eyebrow-raising incident unfolded just hours after a white powder, confirmed to contain traces of the illicit drug, sparked a hazmat situation. The incident, which prompted an immediate evacuation, has raised serious questions about security protocols within the iconic residence.
Among those present at the White House for the Independence Day festivities was Hunter Biden, the president's son. As news broke about the cocaine-laced substance, the White House remained tight-lipped, opting for silence over the startling discovery that unfolded on the night of July 2. President Biden was at Camp David with his recovering drug addict son, Hunter, when the discovery was made.
Where was the cocaine really found?
Adding to the mystery surrounding the incident, Secret Service officials revealed on Tuesday afternoon, July 4, that the cocaine was found in the West Wing. This area is frequented by members of the Biden administration, White House staff, and numerous journalists. Radio dispatches by the DC Fire Department, reviewed by the New York Post, suggested that the substance was discovered in the library, which is located two floors below the private White House residence and is part of the public tour.
The West Wing serves as the bustling epicenter of White House activity, housing the Oval Office, executive staff offices, the Cabinet Room, the Roosevelt Room, and the press briefing room. A multitude of individuals, including both career and political White House staff, traverse this area on a daily basis, ranging from the president's closest advisers to cleaning and maintenance staff.
Speculations and clarifications
Following initial reports that the white powder substance was found in the library and confirmed as cocaine, speculations emerged, with some web sleuths suggesting that Hunter Biden may have been the source. However, it is important to note that the White House library, accessible to the public, is situated within the executive residence and is distinct from the living quarters of the first family.
As the investigation unfolded, the Biden family returned to the White House on Tuesday morning to continue their Independence Day celebrations. President Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, their son Hunter, his wife Melissa, and their three-year-old son Beau, appeared on the South Lawn to participate in the festivities. Hunter Biden sported a black ball cap adorned with an American flag and was dressed in jeans, brown loafers, a white button-down shirt, and a suit jacket. Melissa, his wife, complemented the celebratory ambiance with a striped summer dress.
Testing confirms presence of cocaine
A dispatch call obtained by the Post revealed that a preliminary test confirmed the white powder to be cocaine, leading to the evacuation of the White House premises on Sunday evening, July 2. The discovery occurred two days after Hunter Biden's last visit to the White House before departing with his father to Camp David for the extended holiday weekend. As the Secret Service continues its investigation, the source of the cocaine remains shrouded in mystery. The substance has been sent for additional testing to gather more information and evidence. In an official statement, the Secret Service confirmed that the cocaine was found in a "work area" within the White House, ruling out the library as the origin.
"On Sunday evening, the White House complex went into a precautionary closure as officers from the Secret Service Uniformed Division investigated an unknown item found inside a work area," the Secret Service statement read. It added, "The DC Fire Department was called to evaluate and quickly determined the item to be non-hazardous. The item was sent for further evaluation, and an investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the White House is pending."
'Bag it up and take it out'
President Joe Biden was not present in the executive mansion when the substance was discovered, as he was still at Camp David with his family. Authorities are now actively investigating how the cocaine managed to breach the high-security measures in place within the White House. A uniformed member of the Secret Service made the initial discovery while conducting a routine round, triggering a brief evacuation of the premises.
The DC Fire Department swiftly arrived at the scene and confirmed, through testing, the presence of cocaine. "We have a yellow bar saying cocaine hydrochloride," radioed a firefighter from the DC Department of Hazardous Materials at 8.49 pm on Sunday, according to the Post. Instructing his team, the firefighter added, "Bag it up and take it out."
Social media had a field day with the sensational discovery on the White House premises. "So we’ve had a topless transgender on the WH lawn and now cocaine in the library. I'm so glad the Bidens have brought decency back to the White House," one tweeted. "The White House has more security than any other building on earth. Unless Joe Biden himself brought that cocaine in, it had to be someone who is there regularly and not subject to security protocols," another speculated. "The Cocaine found at the White House is not from Hunter Biden. The real story is actually much worse than that! Many of Joe Biden’s Top Staff regularly use Cocaine and other Hardcore Drugs. The cleaning crews are tasked with hiding all traces but this weekend was especially bad!" someone else alleged. "357 Former Intelligence Chiefs Sign Open Letter Blaming Russians for Cocaine in White House Library," another quipped.
Given Hunter Biden's history of struggling with substance abuse, his presence during the incident has garnered attention. However, it is essential to await the findings of the ongoing investigation into the discovery.
