Secret Service concludes cocaine investigation without suspect

The Secret Service has concluded its investigation into a bag of cocaine found in the West Wing of the White House without identifying any suspects.

Secret Service agents briefed House lawmakers and staff Thursday on the investigation after Republicans raised concerns about what the discovery, made on July 2 while President Joe Biden was at Camp David, meant for security at the White House.

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“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 said in a statement. “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.”

Thursday morning, members of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee were briefed by Secret Service on the investigation.

According to members who attended the briefing, the Secret Service said they had been able to narrow down the list to about 500 people who could have left the bag of cocaine in the West Wing. The members also said the Secret Service found less than a gram of cocaine, and it was discovered near the West Executive entrance in a cubby where visitors leave their cell phones and other personal items while they are on campus. The Secret Service told members that the key to the cubby where the cocaine was found is currently missing, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said.

Members could not expand on the list of 500 individuals or speak broadly about if it included senior staff, low-level staff, or visitors because the information was classified.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said the Secret Service found no evidence the cocaine they discovered was being used at the White House but added “we all know that cocaine has probably been used in the White House.”

The news that the investigation was closed angered many Republicans in the briefing, as they felt it should be a top priority to find out who brought illegal drugs into the White House.

As he left the classified House briefing, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) told reporters the idea that the Secret Service did not identify a suspect, despite analyzing visitor logs and security footage, “is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” The Secret Service could not determine a time frame or obtain fingerprints.

“I’m going to talk to some law enforcement experts about how a little baggie of cocaine doesn’t have any fingerprints,” Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) said as he left the briefing.

Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), for his part, said while it’s troubling that cocaine was able to make its way into the White House, he is “satisfied it’s a thorough investigation.”

“It seems like there’s a constructive dialogue that’s going on between the Secret Service and the White House about what must be done to further improve security there,” Raskin said. “So, they would be able to find, at least find someone who ditched a baggie of drugs on their way out or on their way in.”

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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters last week there had been tours that Sunday and during the two days beforehand, describing the area as “highly traveled.”

“We are not involved in this,” Jean-Pierre said. “This is something that the Secret Service handles. It’s under their protocol.”