During the investigation of the cocaine found in the White House last summer, tensions emerged between top officials and the Secret Service’s Forensics Services Division, which resisted calls from former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to dispose of the evidence. According to sources within the Secret Service, conflicts arose after a Uniformed Division officer discovered the cocaine on July 2, 2023, when President Biden and his family were away at Camp David.
Initially, a Uniformed Division officer was assigned to investigate but was removed from the case after insisting on following specific investigative protocols, a move that displeased Cheatle and Acting Director Ron Rowe. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi refuted claims that there was any directive to destroy the evidence, although he did not address questions about whether agents were reassigned or retaliated against during the investigation.
Secret Service faces scrutiny after resisting calls to destroy White House cocaine evidence, leading to internal conflict
The cocaine’s discovery raised concerns for Cheatle, who resigned following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Although Hunter Biden, known for his struggles with cocaine, was not present when the drug was found, it was noted that he had recently stayed at the White House.
The incident quickly became a media spectacle, leading to speculation and accusations of a cover-up. Normally, illegal substances found in the White House are discreetly dealt with by the Secret Service’s protective details. However, the cocaine was discovered by a Uniformed Division officer, not a member of Biden’s regular security team.
The exact location where the cocaine was found shifted in initial reports but was eventually confirmed to be in a vestibule of the White House. The substance was flagged as potentially hazardous and tested by the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department before being analyzed by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. Despite DNA analysis revealing some matches, no concrete conclusions were reached.
Secret Service officials, pressured by Cheatle and others, chose not to pursue further DNA searches or interviews with White House personnel, leaving the case unresolved. In response to mounting scrutiny, Guglielmi stated that without sufficient physical evidence, the investigation could not pinpoint a suspect among the numerous individuals who accessed the area where the cocaine was found.
The investigation’s closure despite a series of agency missteps has led to further criticism and forced Guglielmi to amend previous statements regarding security requests related to the Trump assassination attempt. Additionally, there were attempts by Cheatle or her representatives to have the evidence destroyed, which was met with resistance from the Forensics Services Division, exacerbating internal tensions.
Richard Macauley, the acting chief of the Uniformed Division at the time, was subsequently overlooked for promotion, which some in the agency view as retaliation for his role in preserving the cocaine evidence. Macauley, recognized for his achievements and contributions to the Secret Service, had a history of improving operations and diversity within the agency.
