In a shocking revelation, sources within the Secret Service community claim that former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, along with other top agency leaders, pushed to destroy evidence of cocaine found in the White House last summer. However, the Secret Service Forensics Services Division and the Uniformed Division stood firm and rejected this push, according to three sources within the agency.
Multiple heated confrontations occurred after a Secret Service Uniformed Division officer found the bag of cocaine on July 2, 2023, a quiet Sunday, while President Biden and his family were at Camp David. The officer initially assigned to investigate the cocaine incident was removed from the case after insisting on following a crime-scene investigative protocol. According to a source familiar with the situation, this decision involved Cheatle and then-Deputy Director Ron Rowe.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi denied that Cheatle, Rowe, or anyone in leadership requested the cocaine evidence be destroyed. Guglielmi stated, “The U.S. Secret Service takes its investigative and protective responsibilities very seriously,” adding that the agency adhered to retention policies for criminal investigations.
The discovery of the cocaine posed an unusual problem for Cheatle, who resigned after bipartisan pressure following the July 13 assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Cheatle, who had a close relationship with the Biden family from her time on Vice President Joe Biden’s protective detail, likely anticipated a media firestorm over the incident. Hunter Biden, who had a history of substance abuse, was staying at the White House around the time the cocaine was found, though neither he nor Joe Biden was present when it was discovered.
The initial discovery of the cocaine was made by a member of the Secret Service’s Uniformed Division, which is responsible for protecting facilities and venues for presidents and other protectees. The exact location of the cocaine within the White House complex changed several times in media reports, from a reference library to a work area of the West Wing. Ultimately, an official Secret Service statement concluded that the bag was found in a vestibule leading to the West Executive Avenue entrance lobby, a well-trafficked area used for tours.
When the bag was first found, it was flagged as potentially hazardous, with concerns it could contain anthrax or ricin. However, the Technical Security Division, usually responsible for identifying hazardous substances, was not called in. Instead, the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department evacuated the White House and tested the substance on-site, determining it was cocaine. The press’s involvement in the evacuation prevented the information from being kept secret, leading to a switch to crisis communication.
Subsequently, the cocaine evidence was analyzed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center and then by the FBI’s crime laboratory for fingerprint and DNA analysis. While no latent fingerprints were detected, some DNA material was found, leading to a “partial hit” in national criminal databases. This vague term usually means that the DNA matches a blood relative of someone in a finite pool of individuals.
Despite the potential lead, Secret Service leaders, under pressure from Cheatle and other top officials, chose not to pursue further DNA searches or interviews with the hundreds of people who work in the White House complex. A source stated, “They didn’t want to know or even narrow down the field of who it could be.” This decision, the source suggested, was to avoid identifying anyone, including possibly Hunter Biden, a staffer, or a tour visitor.
Secret Service spokesman Guglielmi defended the agency’s handling of the investigation, stating that interviewing all 500 potential suspects would strain resources, infringe on civil liberties, and likely be fruitless without corresponding physical evidence. With insufficient DNA for comparisons and no helpful surveillance footage, the investigation was closed due to a lack of physical evidence.
The controversy surrounding Cheatle and the Secret Service’s handling of the cocaine incident has only added to the agency’s troubles, which include criticism for mistakes leading to an assassination attempt on Trump. Cheatle’s alleged push to destroy the cocaine evidence and the subsequent decision to retain it led to significant internal conflict within the Secret Service.
The incident has also highlighted issues of retaliation within the agency. Richard Macauley, the acting chief of the Uniformed Division who supported retaining the evidence, was passed over for the permanent chief position. Despite his notable service and efforts to improve operations and diversity, many in the agency view this as retaliation for his stance on the cocaine evidence.
The recent revelation of these internal struggles and the alleged attempts to cover up the cocaine discovery has cast a shadow over the Secret Service, raising new questions about its integrity and just how much its leadership can get away with.