FBI's Discovery in White House Causes Uproar for Bidens
The cocaine was found on July 2, 2023. At that time, then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris were not in Washington. The White House was temporarily closed as a safety measure while authorities investigated the substance.
The U.S. Secret Service started an investigation and later stated that the bag was located in a frequently used area of the complex. Tours of that section are by invitation only and are typically guided by White House staff. The Secret Service reported that hundreds of people could have accessed the cubby area and that available security camera footage did not identify a suspect.
Internal Secret Service emails, later obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, showed that the FBI quickly took possession of what was initially described as “white powder” and transported it to the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for testing.
The Secret Service announced on July 12, 2023, that it was ending the investigation, stating it could not identify a suspect. The bag was reportedly tested for DNA and fingerprints, but investigators said the evidence did not provide useful leads.
The D.C. Fire Department performed an on-site test, which ruled out a biological hazard but confirmed the substance was cocaine. The Secret Service, responsible for White House security, led the investigation, and the FBI quickly took custody of the evidence for further analysis at its crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.
According to a summary of the investigation obtained by The Associated Press, the baggie and its packaging underwent advanced forensic testing, including DNA analysis, fingerprint examination, and chemical testing. Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center also tested the substance to rule out any biothreat.
Despite the “sophisticated FBI crime lab analysis,” investigators found no usable fingerprints or DNA from the bag. Surveillance footage from the West Executive Avenue lobby did not identify a suspect or provide actionable leads.
As rumors spread about who left the cocaine inside the White House, several online sportsbooks began accepting novelty bets on the potential culprit. Officials have repeatedly stated it is unlikely the person responsible will ever be identified. The Secret Service closed its investigation after 11 days without naming a suspect, citing the lack of usable forensic evidence and inconclusive surveillance footage. Investigators also said they could not determine precisely when the cocaine was left in the cubby.
The cocaine was found in a West Wing holding area used during staff-led tours. President Biden was at Camp David at the time. While White House staff undergo routine drug testing, visitors on tours do not.
The newly released photos offer a clearer view of where the bag was found and how it was stored, but they do not answer the persistent question that has remained since the incident first made headlines: who left the cocaine inside the White House.
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