According to Daily Mail, a new report has surfaced alleging that ousted Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other top officials wanted cocaine discovered at the White House to be destroyed before further testing could occur.
The cocaine was found in a West Wing locker on July 2, 2023, sparking a media frenzy. The bag of cocaine was reportedly sent for destruction one day after an 11-day investigation concluded without identifying the culprit. The Secret Service has denied these claims, maintaining that the investigation followed proper protocols.
Cheatle and other top officials reportedly pushed for the cocaine's destruction before it could undergo further testing. The Secret Service, however, has vehemently denied these claims, stating that the investigation was handled properly and in accordance with established procedures.
Spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi responded to the allegations, saying, "This is false. The US Secret Service takes its investigative and protective responsibilities very seriously." He further added that the agency adhered to retention policies for criminal investigations.
Despite these denials, the report has added fuel to the fire, especially given the high-profile nature of the discovery. Less than a gram of cocaine was found in a dime-sized ziplock bag, which was a cause for significant concern.
The cocaine discovery was expected to trigger a media firestorm due to the widely chronicled drug use of Hunter Biden. Cheatle, who resigned after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, reportedly foresaw the media attention this would bring.
Historically, such discoveries would not have been made public and would have been handled discreetly by protective agents assigned to the first family. However, this instance was different, as the cocaine was found by a member of the Secret Service's Uniformed Division, not the inner-ring protective agents.
President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David during the discovery. The substance was initially flagged as potentially hazardous but later identified as cocaine. This prompted a Hazmat situation and led to the evacuation of the White House complex, alerting the press.
The investigation into the cocaine discovery lasted 11 days but concluded without identifying the person responsible. The bag was ultimately sent for destruction one day after the investigation wrapped up. Matt White, a vault supervisor, allegedly received a call from Cheatle or someone on her behalf, asking him to destroy the cocaine to close the case.
The cocaine was initially tested to confirm it was not a more dangerous substance like Anthrax. The White House evacuation was unusual and tipped off the press. The bag was first sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center before ending up at the FBI's crime lab in Quantico.
Three sources told Real Clear Politics that while no fingerprints were detected, some DNA material was found. The DNA matched a blood relative of the person whose DNA was left on the bag, leading to calls for further investigation.
There have been calls for Congressional oversight committees to investigate the "partial hit" on the DNA match. One source stated:
The Congressional oversight committees need to put White under oath and confirm the 'partial hit.' Then the FBI needs to explain who the partial hit was against, then determine what blood family member has ties to the White House or what person matching the partial hit was present at the White House that weekend.
The discovery of cocaine in the White House has raised significant questions and concerns. A new report claims that Kimberly Cheatle and other top officials wanted the cocaine destroyed before further testing, which the Secret Service denies. The investigation into the substance lasted 11 days and concluded without identifying the culprit, but DNA evidence suggests a partial match to a blood relative. Calls for further investigation persist as the story continues to develop.
