According to officials, a white powdery substance discovered in the West Wing of the White House on Sunday night has been confirmed to be cocaine. The U.S. Secret Service spokesperson confirmed that subsequent testing verified the initial suspicion that it was indeed the illicit drug.
The discovery led to speculation regarding the possible owner of the cocaine, with some suggesting it could belong to Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, who has struggled with addiction to cocaine and crack in the past and has been recently seen at the White House. However, officials did not indicate whether the younger Biden is currently under suspicion.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated, “The item was sent for further evaluation, and an investigation into the cause and manner of its entry into the White House is underway.”
According to an unnamed source familiar with the investigation, the cocaine was found in a small plastic baggie inside a cubby commonly used by staff and guests. The incident prompted a brief evacuation of the White House.
Initially, officials reported that the cocaine was discovered in the library on the ground floor, but later sources clarified that it was actually found in the West Wing holding area. The cubby in question is utilized by employees and visitors to store personal items, including phones, as per an official cited by The New York Post.
President Biden was away at Camp David for the holiday weekend and returned to the White House on Tuesday morning, after the cocaine discovery had been made.