Recent reports have revealed that cocaine was discovered near to the West Executive Entrance of the White House, close to the Situation Room. Law enforcement officials are currently investigating how this substance, classified as a Schedule 2 drug by the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency, ended up in one of the most secure government buildings in the world.
The media coverage of this incident appears to vary among news outlets, with right-leaning sources giving it more prominence than left-leaning outlets, while some outlets are presenting their own spin on the story.
Slate, a left-leaning publication, covered the story with a headline referencing drug use by past presidential administrations, alluding that the discovery of illicit substances in the White House is not unprecedented. Meanwhile, the right-leaning Daily Mail emphasized the proximity of the cocaine discovery to Hunter Biden’s visit to the White House, highlighting his well-known past drug abuse issues.
Online betting websites have also joined in on the speculation, listing Hunter Biden among a list of potential owners of the drugs. However, it remains unclear who brought the cocaine into the highly-trafficked area. One law enforcement official familiar with the ongoing investigation reportedly told Politico that it is unlikely the culprit will ever be found due to the nature of the discovery.
When asked about the incident, the White House referred to the Secret Service, stating that the investigation falls under their “purview.” The White House expressed confidence in the Secret Service’s ability to uncover the truth.
“We’re going to allow certainly the investigation to continue,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “And we have confidence the Secret Service will get to the bottom of this.”
President Biden has not responded directly to questions about the cocaine discovery. House Republicans have now initiated an investigation into the matter.
“The presence of illegal drugs in the White House is unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House’s history,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer wrote.
The House Oversight Committee says it plans to assess White House security practices and determine the failures that led to the evacuation of the building and the discovery of the illegal substance.
According to NBC, the bag containing the drugs is being tested for fingerprints and DNA as part of an investigation of the incident by the Secret Service. The agency’s inquiry is also reviewing visitor logs and camera footage to gather further information.
“I don’t think that this stayed around very long undetected, which gives the Secret Service a leg up because they will have some type of time frame to look through what White House pass holders, some press people, whoever else came through that West Wing tours, to see who came through the West Wing during a set time period,” former Secret Service Agent Charles Marino said.
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