Former Secret Service agent Evy Poumpouras expressed her lack of surprise regarding the incident involving cocaine being found in the White House, as the Secret Service concluded their investigation without identifying a suspect.
Poumpouras shared her insights during an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, highlighting previous instances where individuals with arrest warrants had been granted tours of the White House.
“I’m not surprised because when we did the White House tours — and I was especially on the East Wing side — we would have people who would put in for tours and … because we would do a criminal check on people, and there were times, Kaitlan, that people would hit, they would be warrants out for their arrests. And so we would know John Doe is coming in for a tour, he’s got a warrant in for his arrest,” Poumpouras told Collins.
Poumpouras suggested a change in protocol by establishing separate entrances for staff and tour guests to prevent such incidents in the future. She expressed reservations about the idea of White House tours, considering the high-security nature of the West Wing and the potential risks associated with allowing friends and family access to sensitive areas.
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“I never thought the tours were a good idea. You’re bringing in people that, friends and family. It’s the White House, it’s the West Wing. I feel like an area like that should not be open to such a degree,” she said.
The Secret Service disclosed that the drugs were discovered in a lobby area off the West Executive Avenue entrance, where visitors typically deposit their electronics and personal belongings before entering.
The investigation concluded due to a lack of tangible evidence, despite fingerprint and DNA tests being conducted on the cocaine’s packaging. There was no available surveillance footage to aid in identifying the responsible party.
The conclusion of the investigation has prompted criticism from House Republicans who raise concerns about potential security vulnerabilities at the White House. Some conservative pundits have unfoundedly attempted to associate the discovered cocaine with Hunter Biden, the president’s son, despite the lack of any factual basis for such a link. Notably, neither Hunter Biden nor the president were present at the White House on the day the cocaine was found, as they were at Camp David during that time.
