Robert McDonald, a former special agent for the U.S. Secret Service, outlined how the agency will likely investigate whose cocaine was found in the White House.
The U.S. Secret Service found an “unknown item” late on Sunday, which led to the evacuation of the White House grounds. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Wednesday that laboratory testing for the material discovered in the White House on Sunday was cocaine.
Secret Service units blocked off roads around the President’s official residence, while a DC Fire Department hazmat team was dispatched to the location to investigate. All road closures have now been lifted, the spokesperson confirmed.
Secret Service units blocked off roads around the President’s official residence, while a DC Fire Department hazmat team was dispatched to the location to investigate. All road closures have now been lifted, the spokesperson confirmed.
During an interview on Fox News, McDonald said he believes the U.S. Secret Service “likely has a fairly good idea” of who is involved in the White House cocaine scandal.
WATCH:
“U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division Officers located an unknown item on the White House complex. As a precaution, the White House grounds were evacuated, and the DC Fire Departments Hazmat team responded,” a USSS spokesperson told Fox News.
“Precautionary closures were implemented around the White House complex this evening after an unknown item was discovered by Uniformed Division Officers,” agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in his Twitter post.
“Precautionary closures will be lifted soon as DC Fire has cleared the unknown item as non-hazardous,” Guglielmi stated in his follow-up tweet.
A previous report revealed three businesses in D.C. had been destroyed on Sunday morning.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement: “Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division seek the public’s assistance in identifying suspects and a vehicle in reference to Destruction of Property offenses that occurred on Sunday, July 2, 2023, in the District.”
The press release added:
–At approximately 4:30 am, the suspect detonated an explosive device on the sidewalk outside of the ATM at the Truist Bank located in the 2300 block of Washington Place, Northeast then fled the scene in a vehicle. The explosive device caused damage to the location. CCN: 23-106-401.
–At approximately 4:36 am, the suspect detonated an explosive device on the sidewalk in front of the doors at the Nike Store located in the 700 block of H Street, Northeast, then fled the scene in a vehicle. The explosive device caused damage to the location. CCN: 23-106-429
–At approximately 4:45 am, the suspect threw a Molotov cocktail-style object at the Safeway store located in the 300 block of 40th Street, Northeast then fled the scene in a vehicle. The Molotov cocktail caused damage to the location. CCN: 23-106-412
The MPD statement added: “In each of these offenses, it appears the suspect targeted commercial establishments and it does not appear the suspect was targeting any members of the public. The establishments were closed at the time of the offenses. There were no reported injuries as a result of these offenses. Anyone who may have any information about these incidents, to include video or photos from any of the offense location are encouraged to call MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.”
Three establishments in Washington, DC were attacked early on Sunday using explosives and a Molotov cocktail, one of which was a few streets from the Capitol and US Supreme Court buildings.
The attacks took place about 15 minutes apart at a Safeway supermarket, a Nike store, and a Truist Bank; the Nike store was only a few blocks away from the government offices.
The New York Post reported: “Metro police said the first explosion occurred around 4:30 a.m. when a device was detonated on the sidewalk by the ATM at the Truist bank in the 2300 block of Washington Place. Six minutes later, another explosive device was set off in front of the Nike store on nearby H Street, police added. By 4:45 a.m., the suspect showed up to the Safeway store on 40th Street, hurling a Molotov cocktail-style object through a window, police said.”
“No one was at the businesses during the early morning hours, and officials said there were no injuries. Metro police noted that the suspect was likely aiming to harm the businesses themselves rather than targeting people. Officials have yet to release any more information about the suspect or a possible motive,” the outlet added.