Washington (CBS News) — Subsequent testing confirmed that a powdery substance discovered by the Secret Service at the White House on Sunday was cocaine, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, as questions linger about how the drug got into the building.
The discovery of the substance caused a brief shutdown of the White House after it was found by Secret Service officers in a common storage area on the ground floor of the West Wing, which houses the Oval Office & offices of some of the president's top aides and support staff. It was found in a zip-close bag near an entrance where visitors taking tours are directed to leave their phones.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden has been briefed on the incident & noted the area where the cocaine was discovered is "heavily traveled" by visitors.
The Secret Service is not ruling out any White House personnel, guests or visitors. At this point, one leading theory is that the bag was brought in by an individual on a White House tour of the West Wing.
White House staffers frequently give guests tours of the West Wing, often at night and over the weekend. Guests must pass through security before entering the White House complex & then are asked to leave phones in small cubbies.
An initial test of the substance conducted by the District of Columbia Fire Department soon after it was found indicated it was cocaine & the additional test took place Tuesday night.
Mr. Biden was not at the White House over the weekend. He, first lady Dr. Jill Biden & members of their family departed for Camp David on Friday.
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