How cocaine ended up in a key area of the West Wing has spurred a demand from the top House investigator who demanding a briefing from the Secret Service on whether security lapses led to the “shameful” episode at the White House.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, Kentucky Republican, told Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle that her team should brief his panel no later than July 14.
“The presence of illegal drugs in the White House is unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House’s history,” said Comer.
The White House was briefly evacuated on July 1 after agents discovered a white powder during a sweep of the building. Lab tests confirmed the substance was cocaine and who would have left it in a wing that includes that includes the Oval Office and workspaces for key White House aides.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said there is no “ongoing national security threat” from the cocaine incident.
Sullivan said he would leave it to the Secret Service to figure out who brought cocaine to the White House.
The White House and Secret Service have offered little during the investigation, including whether security camera footage or visitor logs will help them catch the drug carrier.
Comer says his request for a briefing is justified because Congress funds White House security and his committee has broad authority to investigate any matter at any time.