House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is seeking a staff-level briefing on the illegal discovery by July 14, he said in a letter.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is requesting the head of the U.S. Secret Service to provide Congress with additional information regarding the recent discovery of a bag of cocaine inside the White House. In a letter addressed to Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle, Comer strongly condemned the illicit finding as a “shameful” incident for the White House and demanded a staff-level briefing on the matter by next week.
He emphasized the importance of assessing White House security practices and determining the individuals responsible for the building evacuation and the discovery of the illegal substance. Furthermore, Comer expressed the committee’s need for “further details” concerning the incident.
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“This concerning development necessitates the Committee to evaluate White House security protocols and ascertain the specific shortcomings that resulted in the evacuation of the building and the discovery of the illicit substance,” expressed Comer in his letter. He further stated that his committee would require “supplementary information” to fulfill this task.
“The discovery of illegal drugs within the White House is completely unacceptable and represents a deeply shameful moment in its history,” asserted the leading Republican.
“This incident has given rise to additional concerns within the Committee regarding the adequacy of security measures in place at the White House. To aid the Committee’s investigative efforts, kindly arrange for a staff-level briefing on this matter no later than July 14, 2023 .”
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the location of the cocaine discovery. Initial allegations suggested that the substance was found in the White House library. However, on Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters that it was located in a “heavily traveled” section of the West Wing. Subsequent reports from multiple sources on Thursday indicated that it was actually near the West Executive entrance, a more secure area than previously believed.
The Secret Service is currently conducting an investigation into the incident, which took place while President Biden and his family were away at Camp David.
Regarding the location, Jean-Pierre stated on Wednesday, “The area where this was discovered is frequented by numerous visitors to the White House West Wing, specifically the area I mentioned. Unfortunately, I don’t have any additional information to share at this time.”
The recent cocaine discovery has intensified the scrutiny faced by President Biden from his Republican detractors, several of whom are already alleging that he has been unduly influenced by his son Hunter Biden’s past foreign business connections.
Certain critics of Biden have gone as far as to speculate whether the cocaine could have belonged to Hunter, who has battled drug addiction in the past.
On Wednesday, Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., penned a letter to the Secret Service, requesting further information regarding the incident. In his correspondence, he stated, “If there are vulnerabilities in the security of the White House complex, it is imperative that Congress be apprised of the specifics and be informed of your plans to rectify any security deficiencies.”