The Secret Service is investigating a white, powdery substance that was found in the West Wing of the White House on Sunday evening. The substance was found by members of the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service conducting routine rounds through the building.
A preliminary field test indicated that the substance was cocaine. Authorities sent the sample to a lab for further testing.
The Secret Service has not released any further details about the incident, including where in the West Wing the substance was found or how it was packaged.
The White House was briefly evacuated as a precaution, but the area has since been cleared and reopened.
The Secret Service is continuing to investigate the incident.
Here are some additional details about the incident:
* The substance was found in a yellow bar.
* The substance tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride, a hazardous material that is often used as a local anesthetic.
* The Secret Service is working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident.
* The White House has not commented on the incident.
The incident is the latest in a series of security breaches at the White House in recent years. In 2019, a man scaled a fence and entered the White House grounds before being apprehended by Secret Service agents. In 2021, a man was arrested after driving a car through a security barrier at the White House.
The Secret Service has been criticized for its handling of security at the White House. In 2019, the agency’s inspector general issued a report that found that the Secret Service had failed to adequately address security vulnerabilities at the White House.
The Secret Service has said that it is taking steps to improve security at the White House. The agency has increased the number of uniformed officers patrolling the grounds and has installed new security measures, such as bollards and barriers.
The incident involving the white, powdery substance is a reminder of the ongoing security threats facing the White House. The Secret Service will need to continue to take steps to ensure the safety of the president and his staff.