An investigation is underway by the U.S. Secret Service following the discovery of an unidentified “white, powdery substance” in a work zone within the West Wing this past Sunday, according to an official from the agency.
The Washington, D.C., fire department’s radio dispatch reported that a preliminary field test suggested the substance to be cocaine, triggering a short-term evacuation of the White House on Sunday evening.
The Secret Service confirmed the substance to be “non-hazardous” after initial tests and stated they are further looking into the issue.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, detailed the incident: “A preventive shutdown of the White House complex was necessitated on Sunday night when the Secret Service Uniformed Division came across an unidentified item in a work zone. The DC Fire Department was summoned to assess the situation, promptly determining the item to be non-hazardous. The item is currently undergoing further scrutiny, and an investigation is underway to determine its origin and how it was introduced into the White House.”
It should be noted that President Joe Biden was away from the White House when the substance was found, having departed for Camp David on Friday, and only returned to Washington on Tuesday morning
