Comer wants the cocaine rundown.
House Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) has fired off a letter to Director of the Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle demanding details on the cocaine investigation at the White House.
“The presence of illegal drugs in the White House is unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House’s history,” the Kentucky Republican tweeted.
“Congress funds White House security procedures & @GOPoversight has oversight jurisdiction over Secret Service operations,” he also wrote in the post. “I’m requesting a briefing.”
🚨The presence of illegal drugs in the White House is unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House’s history.
Congress funds White House security procedures & @GOPoversight has oversight jurisdiction over Secret Service operations.
I’m requesting a briefing.👇 pic.twitter.com/5ORRhE7bey
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 7, 2023
Read Comer’s letter to the Cheatle below:
The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the details surrounding the discovery of cocaine in the White House. This alarming development requires the Committee to assess White House security practices and determine whose failures led to an evacuation of the building and finding of the illegal substance. The Committee requests the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) provide additional information.
The presence of illegal drugs in the White House is unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House’s history. According to a senior law-enforcement official, the cocaine was found in a storage facility that is “routinely used by White House staff and guests to store cell phones.”1 According to reports, USSS agents discovered a suspicious white powder inside the White House, prompting an evacuation of White House staff and personnel.2 The substance has since been confirmed to be cocaine.3
This incident has raised additional concerns with the Committee regarding the level of security maintained at the White House. In order to assist the Committee with its investigation, please provide a staff level briefing on this matter by July 14, 2023. You may contact the Committee at (202) 225-5074 to schedule the briefing.
The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
The White House has been tight-lipped regarding the investigation. On Thursday, Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates hid behind the Hatch Act to avoid discussing the matter.
“I don’t have a response to that because we have to be careful about the Hatch Act,” Bates said when asked about the cocaine.
The investigation is ongoing.
