Washington, D.C., USA – The US Secret Service has announced the closure of its investigation into the discovery of cocaine in the White House. Despite efforts to identify a suspect through fingerprint analysis, DNA traces, and video evidence, the agency was unable to determine who was responsible.
Earlier this month, a small plastic bag containing cocaine was found in a storage area of the West Wing. This area is accessible to the public and serves as a location for visitors to deposit their mobile phones before entering the White House, according to the Associated Press. President Joe Biden and his family were not present at the time as they were at Camp David in Maryland.
Upon the initial discovery of the cocaine, safety protocols were implemented to ensure that the substance posed no security threat to the White House. Tests confirmed that the material was indeed cocaine, and further analysis was conducted by the FBI’s crime laboratory to examine the composition of the substance. Advanced fingertip and DNA analysis were performed on the packaging.
Earlier, allegedly Hunter Biden sniffing cocaine was seen in a video that went viral on social media. The video was circulated by conservatives.
BREAKING: The Secret Service has ended their investigation into the bag of cocaine found at the White House, finding no suspects.
This is your sign that the culprit was almost certainly Hunter Biden.
Let’s call this what it is: A cover up.
According to former acting… pic.twitter.com/nvdEeI4V8H
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 13, 2023
While the Secret Service investigated the origins of the cocaine, it also reviewed the security systems leading up to the discovery. This inquiry resulted in the identification of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the drug was found.
However, the Secret Service recently received forensic evidence from the FBI, revealing that there was insufficient DNA evidence for comparison and no viable latent fingerprints. Consequently, the agency could not match the evidence against a known pool of individuals.
The surveillance footage also proved inconclusive, making it impractical to single out a specific person from the hundreds who passed through the area without physical evidence to support the identification.
In a statement, the Secret Service emphasized its commitment to protecting US leaders, facilities, and events. It stated that it constantly adapts its strategies to meet the evolving security environment.
Cocaine is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act, indicating its high potential for abuse, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, reports BBC.
The discovery of the drugs in a heavily trafficked area of the White House campus has raised concerns among Republican lawmakers. Some expressed their dissatisfaction with the Secret Service following a confidential briefing. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina stated that “somebody needs to be fired for letting it happen,” while Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee referred to the situation as a “clown show.”
However, Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin expressed a more measured perspective, describing the incident as troubling but cautioning against an excessive response, such as conducting drug tests on the approximately 500 individuals who may have entered with the drugs.
