In a bombshell report, it has been revealed that former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other top officials within the agency allegedly sought to destroy evidence of cocaine found in the White House in the summer of 2023. This plan, however, was thwarted by two divisions within the Service, leading to a significant internal conflict.
The incident began on July 2, 2023, when a bag containing cocaine was discovered in a vestibule leading to the lobby area of the West Executive Avenue entrance to the White House. President Joe Biden and his family were away at Camp David at the time. The discovery was made by members of the Secret Service's Uniformed Division during a routine security sweep.
According to sources within the Secret Service, the Forensics Services Division and the Uniform Division refused to comply with a directive to dispose of the cocaine evidence. This directive allegedly came from Cheatle and then Deputy Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe. An officer assigned to investigate the incident was removed from the case after expressing a desire to follow proper crime scene protocols.
Despite the allegations, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi denied that Cheatle and Rowe had attempted to destroy the evidence. "This is false. The US Secret Service takes its investigative and protective responsibilities very seriously. There are retention policies for criminal investigations, and the Secret Service adhered to those requirements during this case," Guglielmi stated.
Real Clear Politics, which first reported on the internal conflict, cited sources who described Cheatle's close relationship with the Biden family, particularly First Lady Jill Biden. This connection was reportedly a factor in her appointment as Secret Service Director in 2022.
Cheatle's tenure as director ended in the wake of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. She resigned on July 23, 2024, citing recent events as a distraction from the agency's mission. Rowe has since become the acting director of the Secret Service.
Further details emerged from a Real Clear Politics report, indicating that the Secret Service had identified a partial DNA match from the cocaine bag but did not pursue potential suspects. The internal investigation concluded just 11 days after the discovery, without any interviews with possible suspects, which fueled speculation about the agency's interest in uncovering the truth.
The case has raised questions about the handling of evidence and internal protocols within the Secret Service. Two sources indicated that Cheatle, or someone on her behalf, instructed the agency's forensics division vault supervisor, Matt White, to dispose of the evidence. This order was reportedly opposed by Glenn Dennis, the chief of the forensics division, and Richard Macauley, the acting chief of the Uniformed Division.
"The protocol is, whether you act on the [DNA] hit or not, we still have to maintain evidence for a period of up to seven years," a source explained. The decision not to destroy the evidence reportedly angered Cheatle.
Adding to the controversy, the Secret Service stated on Monday that the cocaine evidence had been "disposed of in accordance with retention policies," though it remains unclear when this occurred or if there were any follow-up actions on the DNA match.
The White House has dismissed speculation that the Biden family was involved, calling such claims "irresponsible." However, the discovery of the cocaine near the Situation Room, in a locker used for personal items, has led to intense scrutiny.
