In a startling turn of events, the White House was temporarily evacuated on Sunday following the discovery of a suspicious substance, which has now been confirmed to be cocaine.
The incident prompted an immediate response from the U.S. Secret Service, leading to the closure of the White House and surrounding roads, as well as the deployment of a hazmat team and the D.C. Fire and EMS.
According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Secret Service, “an unknown item” was located within the White House complex by Uniform Division Officers. As a precautionary measure, the grounds of the White House were swiftly evacuated, and the D.C. Fire Department’s Hazmat team was called in to assess the situation.
In response to the discovery, the White House underwent a rapid but precautionary evacuation. However, after a thorough assessment by the D.C. fire department, it was determined that the substance did not pose an immediate threat to the building’s occupants or the public.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were not inside the White House at the time of the incident. They had departed for Camp David in Maryland to celebrate the Independence Day weekend with their family, including the president’s son Hunter. Their planned return to Washington, D.C., was scheduled for Tuesday morning.
The Daily Boulder has reached out to the Secret Service for further information and is currently awaiting a response regarding the incident.