The Secret Service has ended its investigation into the discovery of cocaine at the White House earlier this month, citing an inability to identify a specific person of interest due to insufficient physical evidence. The substance, which was found on July 2, was located inside a bin used to temporarily store personal and electronic items before entering the West Wing. The Secret Service carried out a detailed review of security systems and procedures to understand how the cocaine entered the premises, but the investigation concluded without determining the drug’s owner.
The Secret Service stated:
“This review included a backwards examination that spanned several days prior to the discovery of the substance and developed an index of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the substance was found,” the Secret Service said. It said investigators developed “a pool of known persons for comparison of forensic evidence gleaned from the FBI’s analysis of the substance’s packaging.”
“There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify who may have deposited the found substance in this area,” the Secret Service continued. “Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered.”
“At this time, the Secret Service’s investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence,”
Reports regarding the exact location of the cocaine within the White House have varied. Initial allegations stated it was found in the White House library, but it was later reported to have been in a high-traffic area of the West Wing, and then near the West Executive entrance.
The cocaine was found while President Biden and his family were at Camp David. The incident has led to criticism from some of Biden’s Republican opponents, who claim the administration lacks interest in identifying the responsible party.
