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Washington: A white powder was discovered in a foyer area of ​​the West Wing of the White House that triggered a brief evacuation Sunday night, and it tested positive for Cocaine in a lab analysis, three people familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
Officials who found the powder in a small plastic envelope in the heavily trafficked part of the White House initially suspected illegal drugs, but ran tests to make sure the powder wasn’t a more dangerous substance. Investigators have not yet determined who brought the cocaine to the White House, according to the three people, who were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
President Joe Biden was at Camp David with members of his family for the weekend when the powder was discovered and the compound was briefly evacuated as a precaution. It is routine for emergency teams to quickly test a suspicious substance at the scene to determine if it is dangerous and to follow up with more sensitive laboratory tests later.
The US Secret Service, which is responsible for securing the White House, has been taking the lead in the investigation, consulting visitor logs and security footage.
The lobby is where many visitors and official staff enter. It is also open for staff-led tours of the West Wing, which are scheduled during off-hours on weekends and evenings.
The White House was closed as a precaution while emergency crews investigated, and the District of Columbia Fire Department was called to assess and determine that the substance is not dangerous, the Secret Service said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The item has been sent for further evaluation and investigation of the cause and manner of his entry into the White House is pending,” the Secret Service said.
Officials who found the powder in a small plastic envelope in the heavily trafficked part of the White House initially suspected illegal drugs, but ran tests to make sure the powder wasn’t a more dangerous substance. Investigators have not yet determined who brought the cocaine to the White House, according to the three people, who were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
President Joe Biden was at Camp David with members of his family for the weekend when the powder was discovered and the compound was briefly evacuated as a precaution. It is routine for emergency teams to quickly test a suspicious substance at the scene to determine if it is dangerous and to follow up with more sensitive laboratory tests later.
The US Secret Service, which is responsible for securing the White House, has been taking the lead in the investigation, consulting visitor logs and security footage.
The lobby is where many visitors and official staff enter. It is also open for staff-led tours of the West Wing, which are scheduled during off-hours on weekends and evenings.
The White House was closed as a precaution while emergency crews investigated, and the District of Columbia Fire Department was called to assess and determine that the substance is not dangerous, the Secret Service said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The item has been sent for further evaluation and investigation of the cause and manner of his entry into the White House is pending,” the Secret Service said.
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