US Secret Service finds cocaine in the White House after evacuation

Social media erupted with ridicule and eyes are on Hunter Biden after the drug was found in the executive mansion’s library.

Hunter Biden, son Beau and wife Melissa Cohen return to Washington on Tuesday. Picture: AFP

The White House has become subject to ridicule after cocaine was found in the official residence following a brief evacuation and search of the executive mansion by the US secret service and Washington DC emergency services.

President Joe Biden was at Camp David on Sunday evening (Monday AEST) when numerous fire trucks and police cars descended on the White House, closing off access to adjacent Lafayette Park and parts of Pennsylvania Ave after an unknown substance was discovered.

“We have a yellow bar saying cocaine hydrochloride,” a firefighter from the DC Fire Hazmat unit later confirmed, referring to test results, on a publicly available radio call around 9pm local time. “Bag it up and take it out”.

Cocaine hydrochloride is the technical term for the fine white power typically referred to as cocaine, which is a schedule II drug under the US Controlled Substances Act.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service told the Washington Post “an investigation into the cause and manner” of how the substance entered the White House was underway, adding that the amount of the substance discovered was small.

Members of the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service found the substance while conducting routine rounds – allegedly in the White House library, according to separate reporting by the Daily Mail.

“Authorities aren’t saying exactly where it was found. If it’s the Old Executive Office Building, it’s likely staff. If it’s the mansion, it’s likely Hunter,” said former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, referring to official reluctance to disclose the location, on social media on Tuesday.

You have got to be kidding me. Cocaine was found at the WH and authorities aren’t saying exactly where it was found. If it’s the Old Executive Office Building, it’s likely staff. If it’s the mansion, it’s likely Hunter.

Reporters do your job. https://t.co/aPfGnn4Wof

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) July 4, 2023

The White House is yet to comment on the incident.

Vito Maggiolo, a spokesman for the DC Fire and EMS Department, told the Post the agency “provided support to the Secret Service as they conducted an investigation” and determined the substance “did not present a threat”.

Social media erupted with mirth in the wake of the discovery given the president’s son, Hunter Biden, who has had past addiction problems with crack cocaine, had recently been staying in the White House before heading to Camp David with his father for the holiday long weekend.

pic.twitter.com/JemvKg8PST

— SamFromSC (@SamFromSC) July 4, 2023

“Where’s Hunter?” asked Donald Trump Junior, son of the former president, on social media.

#WheresHunter?
White House evacuated after cocaine hydrochloride found on grounds https://t.co/osZZCQfLKW

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 4, 2023

Mark Levin, high profile Fox New Anchor, suggested members of the White House press corp could be responsible.

Although, I am not ruling out possible members of the White House presshttps://t.co/ZVM0zCMiX6

— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) July 4, 2023

The discovery came as new pictures emerged of Hunter Biden from his infamous laptop, showing the First Son driving 172 miles an hour in his Porsche to Las Vegas in 2018 while smoking what appeared to be a crack pipe.

President Biden returned to the White House from Camp David on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) for official July 4th celebrations with Hunter and other Biden family members.

The cocaine discovery prompted the second bout of ridicule for the White House in less than a month after Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre declared she was a historic figure.

“This is a historic administration, I’m a historic figure and I certainly walk in history every day,” she said in a radio interview on 19th June, referring to her status as the first black, openly LGBTIQ+ White House press secretary.

The claim similarly generated significant ridicule on social media.