WASHINGTON (AP) – No fingerprints or DNA were found Bag of cocaine found in a White House lobby According to a summary of the Secret Service investigation obtained by The Associated Press, despite a detailed analysis by the FBI’s crime lab and surveillance footage of the area over the past week, no suspect has been identified. There is no evidence as to who brought the drugs into the building.
U.S. Secret Service agents found the white powder during a routine July 2 search of the White House in a busy West Wing lobby, where staffers come and go and tour groups gather to drop off their phones and other belongings.
“Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out one person of interest from the hundreds of people who walked through the antechamber where the cocaine was discovered,” Intelligence officials said in the summary.
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The presence of cocaine in the White House sparked fierce criticism and questions from Republicans, who called for a briefing on the investigation on Thursday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden believed in it it was “incredibly important” for the Secret Service to find out how the drugs got into the White House.
Biden was not there at the time of discovery. He was at Camp David with members of his family over the holiday weekend.
The complex was briefly evacuated as a precaution when the white powder was found. Firefighters were called to test the substance at the scene to determine if it was dangerous. The first test returned a negative result for a biological hazard, but a positive result for cocaine.
The Secret Service is responsible for securing the White House and leading the investigation. The bag was sent for a second, more sensitive laboratory analysis. The Department of Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center analyzed the item for potential biothreats. Tests conducted at the facility came back negative, officially confirming that the substance was not a biological threat.
The lobby is also open for staff-guided tours of the West Wing, which take place after hours on weekends and evenings. These tours are invitation-only and are led by White House staff for friends, family, and other guests. Most staff working at the complex can request an appointment for an evening or weekend tour, although there is often a long waiting list. There were tours on the day, a Sunday, the drugs were found and the two days before.
According to the summary, the cocaine and packaging underwent further forensic testing, including advanced fingerprinting and DNA analysis at the FBI’s crime lab. The FBI also ran chemical tests.
Meanwhile, Secret Service investigators have compiled a list of several hundred people who may have gained access to the drug site. Anyone entering the White House must provide personal information before entering and go through security.
However, the lab results revealed no latent fingerprints or DNA, leaving officers nothing to compare to the possible suspect pool. White House staff being fingerprinted; Participants in tour groups do not.
The Secret Service said the video from the lobby entrance on West Executive Street did not identify the person or provide specific investigative information.