Lab tests have confirmed that the unknown white powder found at the White House last Sunday is cocaine, a spokesperson for the US Secret Service (USSS) told American outlet CNN.
The USSS had earlier confirmed that preliminary tests showed that the substance was ‘cocaine hydrochloride’, and it was sent for additional investigation and testing.
A source involved in the investigation was quoted by CNN as saying that the cocaine was discovered near the ground floor entrance to the West Wing.
The West Wing is a large section of the White House that contains the office of the President, Vice-President, the Chief of Staff, and other high-level staff.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the area where the cocaine was discovered was a storage area that was used by the White House staff and tour visitors to store their mobile phones. These staff-led tours typically occur on weekends and evenings.
The White House allows its staff to give regulated tours to friends and families for free of cost. However, all visitors other than accredited staff must store their mobile phones and other personal belongings such as wallets in cubicles.
A source involved in the investigation confirmed to Reuters that the cocaine “was in one of the cubbies”.
“They’re checking visitor logs and… looking at cameras. Those are the next steps. Cross-checking,” the source added.
Earlier, it was reported that the powder was small in terms of quantity and present in a small, zipped bag.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the Secret Service is conducting an investigation and will ‘get to the bottom’ of how the drug entered the building.
She said that President Biden – who was not present at the White House when the cocaine was discovered by USSS officers – had been briefed about the situation.
“We have confidence that the Secret Service are going to get to the bottom of this,” Ms Jean-Pierre said.
Former President Donald Trump – who is embroiled in legal trouble of his own – took to his social media platform Truth Social to launch an attack on the White House management.
Trump insinuated that the cocaine found was being used by President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, a member of the Republican Party who is on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote to the Secret Service’s director asking six questions regarding the cocaine incident.
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