House Republicans seek briefing on cocaine found at White House.

House Oversight Committee Requests Briefing on Cocaine Found at White House

In a letter dated July 7, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has called for a briefing from Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle regarding the recent discovery of cocaine at the White House. The committee aims to investigate the incident and assess White House security practices.

Describing the finding of the illegal substance on July 2 as “unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House’s history,” Mr. Comer emphasized the need to determine the failures that led to the evacuation of the building.

The White House initially stated that the cocaine was found near the West Wing, a heavily trafficked area. However, subsequent reporting by NBC News revealed that the bag was actually discovered near the Situation Room, an area not accessible to the public.

According to sources familiar with the Secret Service probe, the illegal drug was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, close to where certain vehicles, such as the vice president’s limo or SUV, park.

The fact that the cocaine made it through the tight Secret Service security has raised concerns about the level of security maintained at the White House. The Secret Service acknowledged that the substance could have been left by an authorized entrant or White House employee.

Chairman Comer has requested a briefing on the incident by July 14, expressing his concerns about the security measures in place at the White House.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has also sent a letter to Director Cheatle, demanding answers regarding the presence of illicit drugs in an area where confidential information is exchanged. He emphasized the need for Congress to be informed about any security flaws and the plan to address them.

Senator Cotton posed several questions, including who has access to the White House complex without undergoing security screening and who has access to the complex with lesser security requirements than those accessing the West Wing. He also inquired about the number of White House visitors screened by K-9s and instances of West Wing visitor screenings.